9#-/w -^ V
W-^C^L
DOMINION OF CANADA
DOMINION BUREAU OF STATISTICS
ORIGIN, BIRTHPLACE, NATIONALITY AND
LANGUAGE OF THE CANADIAN PEOPLE
(A CENSUS STUDY BASED ON THE CENSUS
OF 1921 AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA)
OTTAWA
F. A. ACLAND
PRINTER TO THE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY
tm
Price oO cents.
I
DOMINION OF CANADA
DOMINION BUREAU OF STATISTICS
ORIGIN, BIRTHPLACE, NATIONALITY AND
LANGUAGE OF THE CANADIAN PEOPLE
(A CENSUS STUDY BASED ON THE CENSUS
OF 1921 AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA)
OTTAWA
F. A. ACLAND
PRINTER TO THE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY
1929
PREFACE
The present report is one of a series that has been prepared in the Dominion Bureau of
Statistics, analytical! of the data on papulation collected by the census. It deals with the
general question of the birthplace, nationality and origin of the Canadian population,
including in the latter the colonial stocks from the British Isles and France, as well as the
recent immigrant population.
The general scope of the analysis will be seen by a glance at the various chapter head-
ings. The first five chapters deal with the changing proportions of the various nationalities
and stocks in Canada in the nine provinces, and their distribution in respect to date of
arrival, age, sex, conjugal condition and urban and rural residence. The remaining seven
chapters include an examination of the behaviour of the various groups as revealed by data
on intermarriage, language spoken, illiteracy, naturalization, crime, fertility, and infant
mortality. Preceding these chapters is a general "Summary" which sets out briefly the
main facts and conclusions. As the subject-matter of the report is complex, involving several
points of view which aJAough distinct are closely related and at times overtopping, it is
recommended that before proceeding to any perusal of the report proper, the explanation*
and definitions contained in the introduction be carefully noted.
The report has been prepared in the Dominion Bureau of Statistics under the direction
of PM£J^_Biir^on_Hurd, of Brandon College, Brandon, Manitoba.
R. H. COATS,
Dominion Statistician.
Dominion Bureau of Statistics,
Ottawa, September 1, 1928.
74422 — 14
CONTENTS
Page
Introduction. ,. „ 1t
Data relating to Nationality, Birthplace, Language and Origin <u collected by the Canadian Census. ... 11
Use of the term "Origin" as distinguished from Race
Practical difficulties in the "origin" classification J4
Classification of mixed stocks
Summary. . 1B
Changes in the composition of the population of Canada since 1901 J"
Nativity and length of residence 18
Age, sex and conjugal conditions ■ 20
Distribution of immigrant stocks by provinces 22
Urban and rural distribution 23
Intermarriage '" 26
Naturalization. 27
Languages spoken | 27
Illiteracy ■ 28
Crime - 32
Occupations 33
• Fertility and infant mortality '.'.'.'.'.'.'. 35
Summary tables
Chapter I. . 43-48
Origins of the Population of Canada • • • 43
The proportion of specified origins in the population 44
Numerical strength of stocks in Canada. .../..... .„
Changes in the proportion of different stocks m Canada
^nMrihution of Various Stocks and of Foreign Born according to Length of Residence • 49-66
DlS Proportion 0" dTfferent stocks' Canadian born, United States born and born in countries ^
other than the United- States -i ? 54
The old and the new immigration . ..../... ■■ .....■■■■■■■■ ■■ 58
The changing proportions of Canadian born and elsewhere born °
Principal countries of birth of recent immigrants from Continental Europe M
^Composition of the Population of Various Stocks in respect of Sex, Conjugal Condition and Age 67-84
Sex composition of the population of various origins 75
Conjugal condition and nativity 76
Age distribution of the foreign born... ■..••• • 81
Age distribution of the different stocks in Canada
Chapter IV. r^-KM
Distribution of Population Stocks and Nativity Groups by Province , °° iuo
Distribution of various stocks by provinces 90
The birthplaces of the population by provinces... j 2
Extent to which each province has shared in total immigration J»^
Number of immigrants in each province
CmTheRUrban and Rural Distribution of the Population of ^rio^J>°ffJTnS^-nli the DroVinces104"l04
Percentage of urban residents among the immigrant population for Canada and the provinces . iu»
Eural and urban distribution as between provinces m
Urban and rural distribution by sex. . ;■.',' •:•'„; 113
The extent to which the different stocks congregate in large cities
Chapter VI. . 116-139
Origins and Intermarriage in the Registration Area m Canada
The tendency to marriage within the same origin group.
A=<.;mil!(tirm bv intermarriage with the British and irench • V.---"",
TS ! relaton be! wee? intermarriage, length of residence, surplus males and size of ^
origin groups....... ..■■..■■ 134
T^^So ^Icf cSentarEuropeanstockshaVemarried'withintheirown^ ^
graphical groups
Chapter VII. 140-159
The Naturalization of Immigrant Peoples... . ..... ..... n,av;q2: ;;;;;;. 140
The proportion of foreign born naturalized in Canada in 19^.^
Naturalization among immigrant peoples from the United States ^
The effect of urban residence on naturalization 148
Percentages naturalized by sex. 150
■p^r.^tages naturalized by provinces • ' • 15g
of naturalization
4
Chapter VIII. Page
Origin and Language — the use of English and French by immigrant peoples 160-169
Proportion unable to speak English or French 161
Proportions of non-British and non-French origins acquiring English 163
Language, intermarriage and length of residence 167
Chapter IX.
Illiteracy and School Attendance as affected by the Origins and Nativity of the Population 170-1 75
Illiteracy among the foreign born of non-British and non-French origins 170
Relation of illiteracy to origin and other factors 173-
Illiteracy as affected by birthplace 173;
Illiteracy and rural and urban distribution 17£
Sex and illiteracy 174;
Illiteracy and inability to speak English and French 174;
School attendance and illiteracy 174
Chapter X.
The Relation of Origins and Nativity to Crime 176-202
Nativity and convictions for indictable offences 176
Origins and nativity of the reformatory population 179
Sex and birthplace 179
Origin and birthplace 181
Rural and urban distribution 185
Origins and birthplaces of the penitentiary population 187
Introduction 187
Age and sex distribution of the penitentiary population. 188
Conjugal condition of the penitentiary population 188
Birthplace of the penitentiary population 189
Citizenship of the penitentiary population 193
Origin of the penitentiary population 194
Parentage of the Canadian born in the peniten tiary population 198
Date of immigration of immigrant penitentiary population 199
Mathematical appendix 200
Chapter XI.
Occupational Distribution of the Population 203-210
Occupations of the populati6n by sex and birthplace 203
Proportions employed in specified occupations 206
Chatter XII.
Relation of Origins to Fertility, Infant Mortality, Blindness and Deaf-mutism 211-221
Fertility of the peoples of Canada 211
Proportions of children in the several origin groups 211
Birth rates in the prairie provinces, 1926 214
Correlation between fertility, rural domicile, illiteracy and length of residence in Canada 215
Infant Mortality 217
Deaf mutism and blindness 221
INDEX OF TABLES
SUMMARY
Table 1. — Summary table showing standing of the population of various origins in Canada according
to specified headings, 1921 36
Table 2. — Verbal summary table showing standing of the population of various origins in Canada
according to specified headings, 1921 38
Table 3. — Summary table showing standing of specified groups of origins in Canada according to
specified headings, 1921 40
Table 4. — Summary table showing standing of immigrants by country of birth according to
specified headings, Canada, 1921 41
Table 5. — Verbal summary showing standing of immigrants by country of birth, according to
specified headings, Canada, 1921 42
Table 6. — Summary table showing standing of immigrants by groups of countries of birth
according to specified headings 42
CHAPTER I
Table 7. — Proportion of various stocks in the population of Canada, 1921, as compared with
1911 and 1901 43
Table 8. — Population of Canada by origins, 1921 ' 45
Table 9. — North Western and South, Eastern and Central European Population of Canada by origins
other than British and French, 1921 45
Table 10. — Population of Canada, by linguistic grouping of origins, 1921. (British and French
not included) 45
Table 11. — Numerical rank of principal stocks other than British and French, by specified
groups, 1921 46
Table 12. — Number of various stocks in Canada, 1901, 1911, 1921 and percentage increases for decades,
1901 to 1911 and 1911 to 1921 48
6
CHAPTER II
Page
Table 13— Canadian born, United States born, and Elsewhere born, by origins in Canada. 1921 50
Table 14.— Number Canadian born, United States'born and Elsewhere born of principal European
origins in Canada, by geographical groups (French and British excepted) 1921 51
Table 15.— Number Canadian born, United States born, and Elsewhere born of principal European
origins in Canada by linguistic groups (French and British excepted) 1921 52
Table 16.— Per cent Canadian born, United States born, and Elsewhere born, by origins, 1921 53
Table 17.— Per cent and rank of (1) Canadian born and (2) Elsewhere born (other than in U.S.) by
origins 1 921 ^
Table 18.— Per cent Canadian born, United States born, and Elsewhere born of principal European
stocks in Canada (French and British excepted) by geographical groups, 1921 56
Table 19;— Per cent Canadian born, United States born, and Elsewhere born of principal European
stocks in Canada, by linguistic groups (French and British excepted) 1921. 57
Table 20.— Summary table of per cent Canadian born, United States born and Elsewhere born of
certain stocks in Canada, by specified groups, 1921 • ■ • : ■ • ■ • ■■•■••••■• • 58
Table 21.— Proportion of population Canadian and Elsewhere born by country of birth, 1901, 1911
1921
59
Table 22.— Number of Continental European born in Canada in 1901, 1911 and 1921 and per cent
increase 1901-1911 and 1911-1921, by geographical grouping of countries of birth 61
Table 23.— Number of Continental European born in Canada in 1901, 1911 and 1921, and per cent
increase 1901-1911 and 1911-1921 by linguistic grouping of countries of birth ........... -61
Table 24.— Summary table showing percentage increase of ihe immigrant population in Canada by
specified nativity groups, for the decades 1901-1911 and 1911-1921 ....... 62
Table 25.— Principal countries of birth of Continental European immigrants to Canada in
STDGcificcl Doriods '
Table 26.— Number and percentage of immigrant population in Canada 1921, who arrived before
1901, classified by country of birth ■_• •■-.:• • ■ • • • ■ • • .• • ■ • b*
Table 27.— Percentage of Continental European born population of Canada in 1921 who arrived
before 1901 , by specified groupings of countries of birth .-•■•■. • ■ • • • • , 6
Table 28.— The average number of years foreign born persons immigrating since January 1, 1901 have
been in Canada, by specified countries of birth and the percentage of the foreign born from each
country who arrived prior to 1901
60.
CHAPTER III
Table 29— Population by origin and sex in Canada, 1921, with percentage of Males to Females for
each origin ■ ■ ■ • • • • • • ■. ■ • • • • • ■ ■ ■ • ■ • :v
Table 30.— Population of European origin (other than British and French) in Canada by sex, with
percentage surplus of males, 1921 .•■.■;
Table 31 —Population of European origin (other than British and French) arranged by principal
linguistic divisions, by sex, with percentage surplus of Males, 1921. . . . . . . . ... . . ... . • . ■
Table 32.— Number and percentage of immigrant males and females in Canada, by birthplace,
1921 ;■•• v ■■•;■• u
Table 33.— Percentage of foreign born males and females and percentage surplus of males by geo-
graphical and linguistic grouping of countries of birth. 1921 ■ • 72
Table 34.— Summary table showing percentages of males and females and percentage surplus of
males for immigrants in Canada by specified group3 of countries of birth, 1921 ,■■■■■.
Table 35.— Percentage surplus of males in total foreign born population, compared with surplus of
males among foreign born adults (21 and over), by country of birth, 1921 74
Table 36.— Percentage surplus of males in total population compared with percentage surplus of
males among adults (21 and over) for principal origins in Canada, 1921 74
Table 37.— Percentage of single males and females, fifteen years of age and over classified as Cana-
dian, British and Foreign born, by provinces, 1921 _ ; • '5
Table 38.— Percentage of population fifteen years of age and over single, by quinquennial age groups
and sex, classified as Canadian, British and Foreign born, for Canada, 1921.... . . . . • 7b
Table 39.— Numerical and percentage distribution by quinquennial age groups of male and female
population in Canada, 1921, classified as Canadian born, British born and Foreign born 7S
Table 40.— Percentage age distribution of various stocks in Canada in 1921. . ......... . . .... . M
Table 41— Percentage age distribution of specified stocks in Canada in 1921, by linguistic and other
groupings
86
96
CHAPTER IV
Table 42A —Percentage distribution of the population of various origins, in Canada, by provinces,
1901-1911-1921 .•■•"■.• W j ' V •
Table 42B.— Percentage distribution of the population of various origins in Canada, by provinces,
1901-1911-1921 ,■•;•••••,■■ 'A' ' 'J' •'■ j lii. •
Table 43— Percentage distribution of the population, by birthplace, for Canada and the provinces,
1911 and 1921 • ■ •■.•■:
Table 44.— Percentage distribution of Continental European born by provinces and geographical
grouping of countries of birth, in Canada. 1911 and 1921 97
Table 45.— Percentage distribution of Continental European born in Canada, by provinces and
linguistic grouping of countries of birth, 1911 and 1921 ._ ■ ■ ■ ■ • • ■ • ■ 9°
Table 46.— Summary table showing percentage distribution by birthplace of population of Canada
and the provinces by specified groupings of countries of birth, 1911 and 1921. ................. 99
Table 47.— Provinces ranked according to percentage of population of specified birthplace in
Table 48.— Percentages of Foreign torn and British born among the immigrant Population by
provinces, 1921 ,••■■••. .■•■'••;' ;•■••.■■■.
Table 49.— Percentage distribution of British born and foreign born immigrants by year of arrival
in Canada, for the nine provinces, 1921 • ; • • • •
Table 50.— Number of foreign born from nine main countries of birth, by provinces, 1921 lUi
101
102
102
CHAPTER V Page
Table 51. — Percentage urban of immigrant population by country of birth; for Canada and thepro-
• vinces, 1921 : 105
Table 52. — Percentage urban of Continental European born, for Canada and the provinces, by geo-
graphical grouping of countries of birth, 1921 106
Table 53. — Percentage urban of Continental European born, for Canada and the provinces by lingu-
istic grouping of countries of birth, 1921 108
Table 54. — Summary showing percentage urban of immigrant population for Canada and the pro-
vinces, by specified grouping of countries of birth, 1921 Ill
Table 55. — Percentage urban of male and female Immigrants in Canada, by countries of birth,
1921 113
Table 56. — Per cent of specified origins in cities 25,000 and over in Canada, 1921 114
Table 57. — Per cent of specified origins in cities 25,000 and over, in Canada, by geographical grouping
of origins, 1921 115
Table 58. — Per cent of specified origins in cities, 25,000 and over,1 in Canada, by linguistic grouping
of origins, 1921 115
CHAPTER VI
Table 59. — Origin of parents of children born in the Registration Area in 1921 117
Table 60. — Percentage of endogamous marriages among parents of children born in Registration ■
Area in 1921 118
Table 61. — Endogamy among parents of children of coloured races, 1921 119
Table 62. — Endogamous marriages among the population of Continental European origins by geo-
graphical groupings, '1921 (as indicated by the parentage of children born in the Registration Area) 120
Table 63. — Endogamous marriages among the population of Continental European origins by lingu-
istic groups, 1921 (as indicated by the parentage of children born in the Registration Area) 120
Table 64 — Number and percentage of married men and women of different origins who had mar-
ried into the British stocks and had children born to them in 1921 121
Table 65. — Percentages of married men and women of Continental European origin married into the
British stocks and having children born to them in 1921, by geographical grouping 122
Table 66. — Percentages of married men and women of Continental European origin married into
the British stocks, and having children born to them in 1921, by linguistic grouping 122
Table 67.— Summary table showing percentage of married men and women of Continental European
origin married into British stocks by geographical and linguistic groups, 1921 (as indicated by
the parentage of children born in the Registration Area) 123
Table 68. — Percentage of married men and women of Continental European origin married to French
in the Registration Area, by geographical and linguistic groups, 1921 124
Table 69. — Percentage of married men and women of Continental European origin married into
French and British stocks in Registration Area, by geographical and linguistic groups (as indi-
cated by the parentage of children born in the Registration Area) 124
Table 70 — Intermarriage, sex distribution, percentage North American born and proportions of total
population in Canada for specified origins, 1921 128
Table 71. — Number and percentages of married men married to wives of different origins and the
proportion of those who married into British stocks (as indicated by parentage of children born in
the Registration Area in 1921) 135
Table 72.— Number and percentages of married women married to husbands of different origin,
and the proportion of those who married into British stock, (as indicated by parentage
of children born in the Registration Area in 1921) 136
Table 73. — Percentages of mixed marriages contracted with men and women of British origin,
arranged in descending order of magnitude, (as indicated by parentage of children born in the
. Registration Area in 1921) 136
Table 74. — Per cent of mixed marriages contracted by continental Europeans with men and women
of British origin, by geographical grouping (as indicated by parentage of children born in the
Registration Area in 1921 ) 137
Table 75. — Per cent of mixed marriages, by linguistic grouping, contracted by continental Europeans
with men and women of British origin (as indicated by parentage of children born in the Regis-
tration Area in 1921) 138
Table 76. — Intermarriage between non-whites and those of British stocks, (as indicated by parentage
of children born in the Registration Area in 1921 ) 138
Table 77. — Percentage of married men and women of continental European stocks who had con-
tracted mixed marriages, ard percentage of these contracted with peoples from the same part
of Europe (as indicated by parentage of children born in the Registration Area in 1921) 139
CHAPTER VII
Table 78. — Percentage of foreign born naturalized, for Canada, 1921, by countrv of 'Mrth 141
Table 79. — -Percentage of foreign born males, 21 years and over, naturalized, for Canada, 1921, by
country of birth 141
Table 80.— Percentage of European born naturalized by geographical groups, 1921 142
Table 81. — Percentage of European born naturalized, by linguistic groups, 1921 143
Table 82.— Naturalization of United States born immigrants, by origins, and o: other foreisn born
by corresponding countries of birth, 1921 145
Table 83. — Data in Column 3, Table 82, arranged by linguistic groups '. . . 145
Table 84. — Percentage naturalized of all foreign born compared with percentage naturalized in cities
25,000 and over, 1921 147
Table 85. Percentage of foreign born (1) naturalized and (2) urban, in Canada, by country of birth,
1921 148
Table 86. — Citizenship of foreign born population in Canada classified according to birthplace and
sex, 1921 149
Table 87. — Percentage by which the proportion of foreign born females naturalized exceeds the
proportion of foreign born males naturalized in Canada, by geographical groups of countries of
birth, 1921 150
8
CHAPTER VII— Concluded Page
Table 88. — Percentage by which the proportion of foreign born fem .les naturalized, exceeds the
proportion of foreign born males, naturalized, in Canada, by linguistic groups of countries of
birth, 1921 150
Table 89. — Percentage of foreign born naturalized for Canada and the provinces, by country of birth,
1921 151
Table 90. — Percentage by which the proportions of foreign born naturalized in each province differed
from the proportion naturalized for Canada, by country of birth, 1921 1 54
Table 91. — Percentage of foreign born naturalized by provinces, and the foreign born and naturalized
foreign born as percentages of total population in each province, 1921 154
Table 92. — Range of fluctuations of percentages of foreign born naturalized, as between provinces,
by countries of birth, 1921 155
Table 93. — Range of fluctuations of percentages of foreign born naturalized as between provinces, by
geographical grouping of countries of birth, 1921 155
Table 94. Range of fluctuations of percentages of foreign born naturalized as between provinces, by
linguistic grouping of countries of birth, 1921 155
Table 95. — Percentage naturalized of foreign born residents in Canada in 1921, by date of arrival 159
CHAPTER VIII
Table 96. — Percentage of the population 10 years of age and over, of British origin, reported as able
to speak French. Percentage of the population of French origin reported as able to speak Eng-
lish, 1921 160
Table 97. — Percentages 10 years of age and over unable to speak (1) English, (2) French or English,
for the principal non-British, non-French origins in Canada, 1921 162
Table 98. — Percentages 10 years of age and over unable to speak (1) English, (2) French or English,
by geographical and linguistic groups of non-British and non-French origins, 1921 163
Table 99. — Numbers and percentages of principal non-British and non-French origins, 10 years and
over in Canada who had acquired English by 1921 164
Table 100. — Percentages of principal origins, 10 years of age and over who did not Know English as
the mother tongue but who had learned it by 1921 164
Table 101. — Percentages 10 years and over of principal non-French or British origins spearing (1)
English, (2) English or French, as mother tongue, 1921 166
Table 102. — Percentages 10 years and over of principal European origins speaking (1) English and (2)
English and French as mother tongue, by geographical groups, 1921 166
Table 103. — Percentage 10 years old and over of principal European origins speaking (1) English
and (2) English or French, as mother tongue, by linguistic groups, 1921 167
Table 104. — Summary showing the relation between the learning of the languages of Canada and
(1) Intermarriage with the basic stocks of Canada (2) Urban domicile and (3) Length of
Canadian residence by origins, 1921 169
CHAPTER IX
Table 105. — Percentages illiterate among the foreign born of the principal non-Biitish and non-French
origins in Canada, 1921 170
Table 106. — Percentages illiterate among the foreign born of the principal non-British and non-
French origins in Canada by geographical and linguistic groups, 1921 171
Table 107A. — Non-literate stocks in 49 census divisions of the prairie provinces 173
Table 107B. — Percentages illiterate and percentages unable to speak English or French among the
foreign born of the principal non-British and non-French origins in Canada, 1921 174
CHAPTER X
Table 108. — Age and sex as factors in corvictions for indictable offences in Canada 177
Table 109. — Actual number of convictions for indictable offences in Canada in 1921, by broad nativity
groups and the rates per 100,000 population of each group 178
Table 110. — Comparative rates of criminality among the Canadian-born, British-born, and
Foreign-born populations of Canada, with the bias due to differing age and sex distribution of
these populations removed, 1921... 178
Table 111. — Reformatory population by sex and birthplace, 1921 180
Table 112. — Parentage of the Canadian born reformatory population, 1921 181
Table 113. — Reformatory population in Canada, by origin and birthplace, 1921 183
Table 114. — Reformatory population in Canada, by groups of origins, 1921 186
Table 115. — Number in penitentiaries in Canada, per 100,000 population of each sex by quinquennial
age groups, 1921 .■•.••• 1^8
Table 116. — Number in penitentiaries, male and female, classified according to conjugal condition;
and number per 100,000 population of each group, 1921 189
Table 117.— Number in penitentiaries per 100,000 population by nativity, sex and quinquennial age
groups, 1921 190
Table 118. — Number and rate per 100,000 of foreign born male penitentiary population aged 21 years
and over in Canada, ,by country of birth, 1921 191
Table 119. — Number of foreign born males in penitentiaries per 100,000 male population aged 21
years and over, of specified groups of countries of birth, 1921 193
Table 120. — Citizenship of foreign born penitentiary population (both sexes) aged 21 years and over,
1921 193
Table 121.— Origin of penitentiary population 21 years and over (both sexes) 1921 195
Table 122. — Origin of penitentiary population (both sexes), 21 years and over, by specified groups of
origins, 1921 196
Table 123. — Origin and nativity of penitentiary population, 21 years and over, by specified groups,
(both sexes), 1921 197
Table 124. — Canadian born population of penitentiaries by nativity of parents, 1921 198
Table 125. — Distribution of the immigrant male population of penitentiaries by birthplace and year
of arrival, 1921 199
9
Mathematical Appendix to Chapter X
Page
Table A. — Convictions for indictable offences in Canada by age and sex 200
Table B. — Males and females by specified age and nativity groups in Canada, 1921 200
Table C. — Males in each age and nativity group as percentage of total male population of corres-
ponding nativity in Canada, 1921 200
Table D. — Females in each age and nativity group as percentage of total female population of cor-
responding nativity in Canada, 1921 200
Table E. — Number of males per 100,000 male population of each nativity who would be convicted
of indictable offences on the basis of uniform crime rates for males of all nativity groups 201
Table F. — Number of females per 100,000 female population of each nativity who would be convicted
of indictable offences on the basis of uniform crime rates for females of all nativity groups 201
CHAPTER XI
Table 126. — Numbers and percentages of employed males and females of specified nativity groups
in principal occupations in Canada, 1921 204
Table 127. — Percentage distribution of employed males in specified occupations, by nativity, 1921 . . 205
Table 128. — Percentage distribution of employed females in specified occupations by nativity, 1921 . 205
Table 129. — Percentage distribution of population of Canada, 15 years and over and of persons engaged
in gainful occupations by sex and nativity, 1921 209
Table 130. — Number of persons engaged in gainful occupations expressed as percentages of the total
population 15 years of age and over, by nativity and sex, for Canada, 1921 210
CHAPTER XII
Table 131. — Percentage of each origin under 10 years of age, 1921 213
Table 132. — Percentage under 10 years of age of specified origin groups in Canada, 1921 214
Table 133. — Birth rates per 100 women, 15-49 years, of specified origins, in the prairie provinces, 1926. 215
Table 134. — Index of fertility, percentage of females (1) Rural (2) Illiterate (3) Proportion of popu-
lation 21 years and over, North American born, for specified origins in the prairie provinces, 1926. . 217
Table 135. — Number of deaths of infants under one year of age expressed as a percentage of number
of births, by origins, for the Registration Area of Canada, 1925 218
Table 136. — Infant mortality rate in Registration Area of Canada, by origins, arranged in order of
size, 1925 220
Table 137. — Infant mortality rate in the Registration Area of Canada, by geographical and linguistic
grouping of origins, 1925 220
Table 138.— Origins of deaf mutes in Canada, 1921 221
Table 139.— Origins of the blind in Canada, 1921 221
INDEX OF CHARTS
Chart 1. — Percentages of the population of Canada of British, French, other European and Asiatic
origins in 1901 and 1921 16
Chart 2. — Percentages of population of Canada, born outside of Canada, 1901 and 1921, by specified
nativity 17
Chart 3. — Percentages of European immigrants in Canada from North Western and South,
Eastern and Central Europe in 1901 and 1921 18
Chart 4. — Surplus males per 100 females among immigrants in Canada, 1921 -. 19
Chart 5. — Percentage of population 15 years and over married, by sex and nativity groups, Canada,
1921 20
Chart 6. — Percentage of specified foreign nativities in the population of the provinces, 1921 21
Chart 7. — Percentages of immigrants from specified countries of birth, domiciled in urban areas,
1921 22
Chart 8 . — Percentages of married males and females of specified origin married to British and French
in Registration Area, 1921 (as indicated by the parentage of children born in that year) 23
Chart 9. — Number of males and females of foreign origin married into British stocks as a pro-
portion of the number married outside their own stock ; by specified groups of origins, Registra-
tion.Area, 1921 (as indicated by the percentage of children born in that year) 25
Chart 10. — Naturalized foreign born as percentage of the total population by provinces, 1921 26
Chart 11. — Proportions illiterate among foreign born, 10 years and over, for specified groups of coun-
tries of birth, 1921 28
Chart 12. — Number per 100,000 children 10-20 years, in reformatories, for specified origin groups,
1921 29
Chart 13. — Number of foreign born males in penitentiaries per 100,000 male population, 21 years and
over, of specified nativity groups, 1921 30
Chart 14. — Number in penitentiaries per 100,000 population 21 years and over of specified origins in
Canada, 1921 31
Chart 15. — Occupational distribution of male population by birthplace, 1921 33
Chart 16. — Percentages of children under 10 years of age of specified groups in Canada, 1921 34
CHAPTER II
Chart 17. — Percentage Canadian born of specified origins other than British and French in 1921.. . 55
Chart 18. — Percentages of specified origin groups Canadian born, United States born and Else-
where born, 1921 : 58
10
CHAPTER III
Page
Chart 19. — Age distribution of total population in Canada, 1921 80
Chart 20. — Age distribution of Canadian born in Canada, 1921 80
Chart 21. — Age distribution of Foreign born in Canada, 1921 -. . . 80
Chart 22. — Age distribution of British born in Canada, 1921 8n
CHAPTER TV
Chart 23. — Percentage of British stock in the population of the several provinces, 1921 88
Chart 24. — Percentage of French stock in the population of the several provinces, 1921 : . . . . 88
Chart 25. — Percentage of other European stock in the population of the several provinces, 1921 88
Chart 26. — Percentage of Asiatic stock in the population of the provinces, 1921 89
Chart 27. — Percentage of population Canadian born, British Isles born and Foreign born by pro-
vinces, 1921 92
CHAPTER VI
Chart 28. — Actual percentage of intermarriage compared with percentages predicted from con-
ditions of excess of males, North American birth and size of origin groups 131
CHAPTER VII
Chart 29. — Percentages naturalized by length of residence for immigrants from specified countries
of birth 158
CHAPTER VIII
Chart 30. — Percentages of specified groups of origins unable to speak either English or French in
Canada, 1921 162
CHAPTER IX
Chart 31. — Percentages illiterate among the foreign born ten years and over of the principal
non-British and non-French origins in Canada, 1921 172
CHAPTER X
Chart 32. — Rate per 100,000 in reformatories for Foreign born and Canadian born children of
specified origins 185
CHAPTER XI
Chart 33.— Percentage of employed males in specified industries by nativity groups in Canada,
1921 203
CHAPTER XII
Chart 34.— Index of fertility 217
Origin, Birthplace, Nationality and Language
of the Canadian People
INTRODUCTION
DATA EELATING TO NATIONALITY, BIRTHPLACE, LANGUAGE AND ORIGIN
AS COLLECTED BY THE CANADIAN CENSUS
The population schedule of the census contains all together thirty-five questions, of
which ten bear on the related subjects of nationality, birthplace, language and origin.
(1) Nationality. — Each and every person is asked to state his nationality or citizenship.
A person of Canadian citizenship or nationality, whether such by birth, domicile or naturali-
zation, is recorded as " Canadian ".
(2) Birthplace. — The country of birth of each person is recorded, and in the case of
Canadian born, the province of birth. Further, the birthplaces of the father and mother
of each person are also recorded for the purpose of distinguishing Canadian families of three
or more generations residence in the country.
(3) Language. — The language spoken is recorded, whether English, French or other
language used in the family.
(4) Origin. — The " origin " of each person is also recorded in ordter to ascertain from
what basic stocks the Canadian population is being derived.
The answers to the above questions are not only compiled separately, but in com-
bination and cross-relation with each other, and are drafted with the purpose of throwing
light from as many points of view as possible on the growth and present composition of the
Canadian people.
It is noted from the above, that the census describes everyone of Canadian nationality
as "Canadian"; everyone born in Canada, as of "Canadian" birth; and everyone whose
family has been of three generations residence (or more) in Canada, as " Canadian " in a
special sense.
Nationality and Citizenship. — At the last three decennial censuses of 1901, 1911 and 1921
inquiry has been made into the nationality of the population. The relevant linsbnuotions to
enumerators at the 1921 census were as follows: —
"It is proper to use 'Canadian' as descriptive of every person whose home is in the
country and who has acquired rights of citizenship in it. A person who was born in the
United States, or France, or Germany or other foreign country, but whose home is in Canada
and who is a naturalized citizen, should be entered as 'Canadian'; so also should a person
born in the United Kingdom or any of its colonies whose residence in Canada is not merely
temporary. An alien person will be classed by nationality or citizenship according to the
country of birth, or the country to which he or she professes to owe allegiance.
" A married woman is to be reported as of the same citizenship as her husband.
"A foreign-born child under 21 years of age is to be reported as of the same citizenship
as the parents."
The fact that foreign-barn persons who have been in Canada less than five years (the
length of residence required to obtain naturalization) are reported as " Canadian citizens "
■is dn virtue of the operation of the Naturalization' Act of 1914, which provides that the fol-
lowing persons shall be deemed to be British subjects: —
(a) "Any person born within His Majesty's dominions and allegiance; and
(6) "Any person born out of His Majesty's dominions, whose father was a British sub-
ject at the time of that person's birth and-' either was born within His Majesty's allegiance or
was a person to whom a certificate of naturalization had been granted; and
(c) "Any person born on board a British ship whether in foreign territorial waters or
not."
11
12 ORIGIN, BIRTHPLACE AND NATIONALITY
Provided (1) "that the child of a British subject, whether that child was born before
or after the passing of this Act, shall be deemed to have been born within His Majesty's
allegiance if born in a place where by treaty, capitulation, grant, usage, sufferance, or other
lawful means, His Majesty exercises jurisdiction over British subjects."
(2) "The wife of a British subject shall be deemed to be a British subject."
(3) "A woman, who having been an alien, has by or in consequence of her marriage
become a British subject, shall not, by reason only of the death 6f her husband or the disso-
lution of her marriage, cease to be a British subject."
The approximate number of Canadian nationals in 1921, on the assumption that all
CanadianHborn .persons resident in Canada, are Canadian nationals, was 8,412,383, including
6,832,747 Canadian-born, 1,065,454 resident British-born and 514,182 naturalized foreign-born,
of whom 237,994 had been born in the United States. Doubtless there were domiciled in
Canada at "the date of the census certain Canadian-horn people who had at some time or
other given up 'their original Canadian citizenship and had not resumed it either because of
personal preference or because they had not been resident in this country the necessary period
of five years required for repatriation. Again, certain of our British-born people domiciled
in Canada were not Canadian citizens either because they had been naturalized in some
foreign country and had never given up such allegiance or because they had not been resi-
dent in Canada for the one year required to vote at elections or the five-year period required
by the Immigration Act.1
On the other hand, many Canadian citizens are residents of other countries, the largest
nuimber being in the United States, where the census taken on January 1, 1920, showed that
out of 1,117,778 white persons of Canadian birth reported as residents of the United States
at the date of the census, 607,303 were naturalized citizens, 72,714 had taken out (heir first
papers and 345,557 were, from the point of view of the United States, aliens, and therefore,
from our point of view, presumably Canadian citizens, while the citizenship of 92,304 was not
ascertained. Thus a very considerable number of Canadian citizens were domiciled outside
of Oanada in 1920 and 1921.
USE OF THE TERM " ORIGIN " AS DISTINGUISHED FROM " RACE "
In a strictly biological sense, the term " race " signifies a subgroup of the human species
related by ties of physical kinship. Scientists have attempted to divide and subdivide the
human species into groups on the basis of biological traits, such as shape of the head, stature,
colour of skin, etc., and to such groups and to such only, would the biologist apply the term
" race ". The use of the term, however, even in this strictly scientific sense is neither
definite nor free from confusion, for there is no universally accepted classification. Further-
more, the identification of certain types of culture with definite biological types has led
inevitably to the result that, even in the hands of the ethnologist, the term " race " has
acquired a cultural as well as a biological implication.
Most modern national groups are composed of widely varying racial strains. The
English type, if such exists in the biological sense, is the product of the commingling of
perhaps half a dozen primitive stooks. The same applies to the French, Italians and indeed
to any European group. Whether these peoples, during the past thousand years, have
evolved distinct and homogeneous biological types which could approximately be termed
"races" is a matter for debate. Homogeneity is always relative; so with race differentia-
tion. The technical biological question as such, however, is of minor importance as far as
the census is concerned. Even in such cases as Scottish and Irish, where it is well known
that distinct strains exist, the cultural consideration is predominant.
The significant fact in the present connection is this. The combined biological and
cultural effect on Canada of the infiltration of a group of English is clearly different from
that produced by a similar niuimber of, say, Ukrainians coming to the country. This is
partly due to the different biological strains and partly to different cultural environment in
the home country. It would be futile from a practical point of view to attempt to separate
1Out of 1,065,454 British-born residents of Canada on June 1, 1921. 90,056 immigrants had
arrived since January 1, 1920, most of whom would presumably not have been residents of
Canada for the one year required by the Dominion Election Act. Further, a total of 177,920
British-born immigrants had entered the country since January 1, 1915, and most of these
would not have been five years in the country and would not be considered as " Canadian
citizens " under the definition of section 2 of the Immigration Act.
DIFFICULTIES OF ORIGIN CLASSIFICATION 13
the biological and the cultural influence. It is known, for example, that biologically the
Orientals are not assimilable in Canada, even if •culturally assimilation were possible. On
the other hand, neither Menmonites nor Doukhobora are easily assimilated culturally, though
biologically an infusion could be effected. But the relative importance of the biological
and cultural factors is not subject to quantitative measurement. Both, however, are com-
bined under the term " origin."
The term " origin ", therefore, as used by the census, usually has a combined biological,
cultural and geographical significance. It suggests whence our people come and the implied
biological strain and cultural background. Following popular usage, the terms, "English
stock", " French stock", " Italian stock", etc., are employed to describe the sum total of the
biological and cultural characteristics which distinguish such groups from others. Such
usage is familiar to the public in general, and only when our " origin " classifications follow
such lines, can they be collected by a census, be understood by the people or have any
significance from the practical standpoint of the development of a Canadian nation.
PRACTICAL DIFFICULTIES IN THE ORIGIN CLASSIFICATION
The term " origin ", as used here, has a combined biological, cultural anl geographical
significance. In certain cases all three aspects are clearly defined; in others the classification
means little more than geographical origin, being distinct from nativity classification mainly
in that it includes not only immigrants, but their descendants. The situation is made clear
by examining the actual divisions in the origin tables of the census.
First, there are cases in which the biological connotation included in' the term " origin "
is pronounced, i.e., where the strains of the immigrating people are comparatively pure.
Such are the coloured stocks, the Chinese, Japanese, Hindu, Negro and aboriginal Indians.
In the case of many of the white peoples also the term " origin " includes both biological and
cultural elements, as in the case of the English, French, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, German,
Greek, Hebrew, Icelandic, Italian, Norwegian, Swedish, Syrian, and so on. With such
groups no serious difficulties are involved.
With certain other groups, however, the problem of classification is not so simple.
Nearly 10,000 people in Canada in 1921 claimed to be of " Swiss " origin. Here " origin "
can only mean original geographical habitat (" Swiss " being a national term including
French, German and other stocks), coupled with a more or less distinct culture, the product
of the partial fusing of several North Western European stocks. The same may be said
of the Belgians, of whom nearly 60 p.c. speak Flemish as the mother tongue, while a con-
siderable proportion speak French, Belgium consisting of two distinct peoples, the Flemish
and the Walloons.^
It is in the Eastern and Central parts of Europe, however, that the greatest difficulty
arises! While there are certain groups like the Bulgarians, Hungarians and Czechoslovaks
where the mixture is not so confusing, there are groups found in the Canadian census like the
Roumanians, 13 p.c. of whom spoke German as the mother tongue and 16 p.c. spoke one of
the Slavic languages, arguing biologically a mixture of stocks. The intermingling is perhaps
not so great with the Poles, S5 p.c. of whom spoke Slavic languages as the mother tongue
and only a little under 10 p.c. spoke German. The Serbo-jCroata are preponderantly
Slavs, judging from the data on mother tongue; but further difficulties emerge with the
Russian, Ukrainian and Austrian groups. Of those reported as of Russian origin 40 p.c.
spoke German as the mother tongue — presumably those from the Baltic provinces of
Russia— and 54 p.c. spoke one of the Slavic languages, the great majority Russian. Thus,
while the majority of those classed as of Russian origin were Slavs, there -was a considerable
admixture of Teutonic stock. Of the Austriams, some 41 p.c. spoke German as mother
tongue, and 53 p.c. one of the Slavic languages, nearly one-half of the latter speaking
Bukoviniain, Galician, Ruthendan or Ukrainian. Such a group is clearly not a biological
unit. The term " Austrian ". in the " origin " tables merely designates a group of immigrant
people, most of whom are Slavs, and whose homes before coming to Canada in the pre-war
days had been for many generations within common political boundaries and who had
therefore the common traits begotten of a similar cultural and economic environment.
14 ORIGIN, BIRTHPLACE AND NATIONALITY
The Ukrainian classification, again, includes four groups: the Bukoviniain, Galician,
Ruthenian, and Ukrainian. But the problem . here is not in the diverse elements within
the group. The four peoples are separately classified and 97 p.c. of them speak Slavic
languages. The group thus includes only biological strains which are closely allied — a
fact which did not obtain with the Austrian or Russian. The difficulty is that the Ukrainian
group probably includes only a part of those who might properly be so classed. There are
about 20,000 in the Austrian " origin " group who speak one of the Ukrainian languages
as the mother tongue, and it is probable ffliat 'there were also some Ukrainians among the
33^56 so-called Russians who were reported as speaking Russian as the mother tongue.
It is clear, therefore, that in certain cases, especially with people from South, Eastern
and Central Europe, the " origin " classification signifies, primarily, original geographical
habitat. In view of this fact the data in the present report are presented in such cases
not only by origins but in general geographical groups and by language classification.
Separate figures have been computed for those of North Western and South, Eastern and
Central European origins, and for the Scandinavians, Germanic, Latin and Greek and Slavic
groups. In some of the linguistic groups certain proportions speaking other languages were
necessarily included. For example, the Austrians and Russians are classed as Slavs, yet
about 40 p.c. of each speak German as the mother tongue. With the exception 'of those
two groups, however, considerable homogeneity appears within the larger groupings, and
even in the cases mentioned (the Austrians and Russians) it is a matter of debate whether
from the point of view of culture the Germans of Austria and Russia domiciled in Canada
aire not closer to the Slavs than to the Germans coming to Canada from Germany.
The above facts regarding the " origin " classification should be borne in mind in
reading the subsequent pages of this monograph. Except in the case of the Hebrews,
the term " origin " always connotes the original geographical habitat of a population group,
usually implies a distinct culture, and often a definite biological strain. In any case, it
refers to a specific group of immigrants and their progeny.
CLASSIFICATION OF MIXED STOCKS
The male line is used in the census for tracing " origin " derivation. In this connection
the population falls into two main categories: (1) the less assimilable peoples who have
maintained their original purity, and (2) those who have intermarried freely for several
generations. In the case of those falling within the first category, the procedure of the
census is obviously satisfactory. It might be objected in the case of. those falling within
the second category, however, that there are many individuals whose origins are so
intermixed through intermarriages that their designation as of the origin indicated by
their fathers' patronymic is largely meaningless. This may be accepted as true in so far
as the individual is concerned. It remains true, however, that by the law of large numbers
in the mass, the adoption of the practice followed in the census will yield approximately
accurate measurements of the different infusions of blood that have gone to make up the
total.
The above becomes clear when we consider in greater detail the purposes for which
" origin " data are collected. Apart from purely scientific studies such data have two
types of use. First, they have an important bearing on the study of immigration, for
they show with what measure of success the newer peoples are mixing with the basic stocks
of the country and adapting themselves to Canadian institutions. In the second place,
such data have considerable historical interest in recording not only the continuous infusion
of foreign blood and foreign cultures from abroad, but the combined effect of natural
increase and immigration on the " origin " structure of the population.
In its bearing upon immigration' policy, the accuracy of the origin classification varies
directly with^ its importance to public policy. Certain peoples readily intermarry with the
native English and French stock in Canada and are easily assimilated in other respects.
The larger the amount of intermarriage the greater is the number, for example, with
part English blood who are classified as of Swedish origin and vice versa. As the fusion
proceeds the social behaviour of the two groups becomes more and more alike. However,
CLASSIFICATION OF MIXED STOCKS 15
even when the two peoples have merged biologically and socially, the origin data perform
a practical function in tracing the progress of the assimilative process and finally demon-
strating that assimilation has taken place.
There are other peoples like the South, Eastern and Central Europeans who are less
successful in adapting themselves to Canadian social and legal institutions. The problem
of assimilating such people is a . difficult one. With these peoples, however, much less
intermarriage has taken place than is often supposed. It is shown in chapter VI that
only about 5 p.c. of the men of South, Eastern and Central European stocks had married
into the British or French stocks in Canada up to 1921 and less than 3 p.c. of the women.
Almost all of those classed. as of Slavic stock are, therefore, of Slavic or allied origin and
. the origin data for such people may be taken as accurately describing the behaviour of
very definite groups in the population. This will continue to be the case until inter-
marriage has proceeded much further than it has done up to the present.
The origin data are thus most adequate in the case of groups where accuracy is most
desirable, for it is with the groups where intermarriage . has made least headway that the
progress of assimilation is slow and merits careful attention. The differences established
in the various chapters of this report testify to the adequacy of the census procedure in
respect to these non-assimilating peoples.
SUMMARY
Note. — It should be clearly understood by the reader of this summary and the report
proper that the conclusions reached apply only to those portions of the several nationalities
and stocks which have emigrated to, and are now a part of the population, of, Canada.
CHANGES IN THE COMPOSITION OF THE POPULATION OF CANADA BETWEEN
1901 AND 1921
(1) In 1921, 55 p.c. of the population of the Dominion was of British stock, and nearly
28 p.c. French. The other European stocks constituted 14-16 p.c. of the population, Asiatics
less than 1 p.c.,- and all others, including Indians and Negroes, slightly over 2 p.c. The
population of Canada is thus predominantly British and, JFYenp.h, these two stocks represent-
ing over 83 p.c, or five-sixths, of the total.
(2) In numbers, the North Western Europeans (other than British and French)
exceeded the South, Eastern and Central Europeans in 1921 by approximately 20 p.c,
but the latter group has been rapidly overtaking the. former. Numerically, the most,
important foreign stocks in Canada of North West European origin are the Germans, JDutch,
Norwegians and Swedish, in the order named; and among the South, East and Central
Europeans those reported as of Austrian, Ukrainian, Russian, Italian and Polish origins. With
the exception of the Germans, the Hebrews (the majority of whom have come from Central
and Eastern Europe) are the most numerous of the foreign stocks in the Dominion.
(3) Since the beginning of the century, the composition of the population of Canada
has been in a state of rapid change. (See Chart 1.) The British and French form a pro-
gressively smaller proportion of the population, and the numbers of Negroes and Red
Indians have remained virtually stationary. On the other hand, the numerical and per-
centage increases of the non-British stocks in the past two decades have been relatively
Chart 1
PERCENTAGES or the POPULATION orCANADA of BRITISH, FRENCH,
OTHER EUROPEAN and ASIATIC ORIGINS in 1901 and 1921.
% 0 10 20 30 40 50 60%
BRITISH
FRENCH
OTHER EUROPEAN
ASIATIC
mss^Mfs^maamtmsmitiffmmiZimz
W///AW//////////MrMP/SAm
1901
1921
16
NATIVITY AND LENGTH OF RESIDENCE
17
great. Other European stocks increased relatively four times as rapidly as did the British
between 1901 and 1911. and constituted in 1921 almost twice as large a proportion of our
population as they did in 1901. The Asiatics increased three times as fast relatively as the
British stocks in the first decade of the century. Increases in the foreign content of the
Canadian population were not so great in the last decade, chiefly on account of arrested immi-
gration. With' economic readjustment in Europe, however, joined to the United States'
policy of exclusion, immigration, it is expected, will be renewed, with probable further shift-
ing in the balance of the different stocks in Canada. It will be shown below that such an
event will be hastened by abnormally high rates of natural increase, especially among the
peoples from Southern, Eastern and Central Europe.
NATIVITY AND LENGTH OF RESIDENCE
(1) In 1921, 9,7 p.c. of the French and three-quartera.of the British stocks were Canadian
born. The Dutch, Germans, Swiss and Icelanders from the North and West of Europe, and
the Ukrainian, Austrian, Polish and Russian peoples from the South, East and Central parts
of the Continent, showed proportions Canadian born ranging from 50 p.c. to 80 p.c, the figure
for the Germanic group being the highest. Though the Slavs and the Latins and Greeks both
Showed larger proportions Canadian 'born than the Scandinavians, a relatively large propor-
tion of the latter group was born in the United States, so that from the standpoint of date
of arrival on this continent, the Scandinavians with the Germanic peoples belong to the
older immigration.
(2) While the Germanic and Scandinavian stocks from the North and West of Europe
generally may be regarded as the older .settlers on this continent, and the Latin and Greek
and Slavic peoples as on the whole the more recent arrivals, it should be borne in mind
that there are exceptions to any such general rule. The Belgians from North Western
Europe are recent arrivals, while the Austrians, Czechs and Russians from Central and
Eastern Europe show almost as small proportions born outside Canada and the United
States as some of the stocks classed among the older immigrants.
(3) Passing to the proportions of our total population Canadian born and born outside
of Canada, there has been a marked decrease in the proportion Canadian born and a cor-
Chabt n
PERCENTAGES of POPULATION orCANADA BORN OUTSIDE or
CANADA,I90UndI92I.bt SPECIFIED NATIVITY.
ayAWsimmi
ALL IMMIGRANTS
BRITISH COUNTRIES
UNITED STATES
NORTH WQTERN EUROPE ||
»Sr EUROPE ga
'mr/jy/y/MimLMiim'/M:
56 O 2 4 6 a O 12 14 -16 18 20 22 24 26 X
74422-2
18
SUMMARY
responding increase in the proportion of immigrants as between 1901 on the one hand and
1911 and 1921 on the other. At the latter date 8 p.c. more of the population was foreign
born than in 1901. The proportion of our population born in North Western Europe was
80 p.c. greater in 1911 than in 1901, and the proportion born in South, Eastern and Central
Europe almost trebled in that decade. Since the beginning of the century, the proportion
of our population born in South, Eastern and Central Europe has been greater than that
born in the North and West of Europe, and the disparity between the numbers of the
foreign born from the two sections of the continent has become progressively more marked.
In 1901 the inuimbers were about equal, but by 1921 the foreign born from South, Eastern
and Central Europe exceeded those from North Western Continental Europe, by two and
a half times. There has thus been a shifting of the weight of immigrant population from
the Germanic and Scandinavian to the Slavic and Latin countries. These points are pre-
sented graphically in Charts 2 and 3.
Chart III
PERCENTAGES ofEUROPE AN IMMIGRANTS in CANADA from
North Western and South,Eastern and Central Europe in 1901 and 1921
NORTH WESTERN EUROPE
SOUTHEASTERN p. ,pODP
AND CENTRAL tUKUrt
1901 g2^
1921
70%
AGE, SEX AND CONJUGAL CONDITION
Age. — Among the Canadian born, the proportion of children under 15 was nearly four
times greater than among the foreign born, and over five times greater than among the
other British born. Over against this comparative paucity of immigrant children, both the
foreign and British born show much larger proportions in the prime of life. The social effect
of such radical differences in age distribution is illustrated in subsequent parts of the report,
especially in that dealing with criminality.
Equally significant are the differences in age distribution between the various stocks
m Canada. A group classified on the basis of original extraction includes not only the
foreign born, but also their Canadian born children, and thus has a more or less real and
distinct existence as a population group. Differences in the age distribution of the different
stocks suggest, among other things, differences in fertility. Among the Slavs and Latins
and Greeks in Canada, the proportions under 10 years of age were greater by half than
those of British origin, and more than a quarter greater than those of German or Scandi-
navian origin. The percentage of those of French origin, under 10 years of age was about
midway between that for the Slavs and that for the Scandinavians.
Sex. — As in tho case of age, differences in sex distribution have an important bearing
on criminality and law enforcement; indirectly, sex differences also throw light on the dif-
fering behaviour of immigrant peoples in respect to permanency of residence in Canada and
in such social phenomena as intermarriage, etc. Marked differences in the numbers of the
sexes exist as between the various origins in Canada, but of more direct interest are the
differences in the sex composition of the immigrant groups. (See Chart 4.) In 1921, the
immigrants from British countries showed a surplus of 14 males for every 100 females,
those from South, Eastern and Central, Europe, a surplus of 45, and those of North Western
European birth a surplus of 50. The Asiatic immigrants led with over seven times as many
AGE, SEX AND CONJUGAL CONDITION
19
males as females. Among the linguistic groups, the Germanic immigrants were lowest with
a third or 33 p.c. more males than females; the Slavs stood next with a surplus of 38 p.c;
the Scandinavians had 75 p.c. more males than females, and the Italian and Greek immi-
grants ranked highest with a surplus of 88 p.c.
These differences are based on data for all ages. When the analysis is confined to the
adult section of the population, the proportion of surplus males is much greater, as among
children the numbers of the sexes tend to be equal.
Chakt IV
SURPUUS MALES per 100 FEMALES AMONG IMMIGRANTS in
CANACA.I92I
%0 10 20 30 40. SO 60 70 80 90 100%
Latin and GreekCountries
Scandinavian Countries
NorthWestern Europe
Southeastern andCentral Europe
Slavic Countries
Germanic Countries
British Countries
United States
m
Conjugal Condition.— As indicated in Chart 5, the British born females showed a
larger percentage married than the Canadian born fema'les at all ages, and the foreign bom
a larger percentage than either the British or Canadian born. The foreign born females
have mot only married to a. greater patent, than- tjip rinriadian and British, but have married
on the avprnfrp. p.nnmHprnMy ynnnprpr These facts have an important and obvious bearing
on the future population structure of the Dominion.
The foreign born males also tend to marry younger than the Canadian and British
born males. The difference is so marked that in spite of a large shortage of immigrant
women, the foreign born- males between the ages of 15 and 25 years show larger percent-
ages married than the British or Canadians. It is of interest to note further, that there is
a much larger proportion of unmarried foreign born males in the far east and far west of
Canada than in the central provinces.
74422— 2J
20
SUMMARY OF
Chart V
SO 60 70 80 90 100%
PERCENTAGE orPOPULATION 15 YEARS ano OVER MARRIED,by
SEX and NATIVITY GROUPS, CANADA 1921
(MALES)
FOREIGN^™
BRITISH born ■ ., ■
CANADIAN born
(FEMALES)
FOREIGN born,
BRITISH born
CANADIAN born
, DISTRIBUTION OF IMMIGRANT STOCKS BY PROVINCES
(1) Radical differences appear in the structure of the population of the various sections
of the Dominion. The following table shows the proportions of specified groups in the
population of Canada as a whole and in each of the nine provinces in 1921 : —
Province
P.c.
British
Origin
P.c.
French
Origin
P.c.
Other
European
Origin
P.c.
Asiatic
Origin
55 '40
85-34
77-81
65-23
15-12
77-79
57-53
52-86
59-79
73-87
27-91
13-51
10-81
31-22
80-01
8-46
6-66
5-56
5-25
2-14
14-16
0-67
9-34
2-53
3-85
11-99
32-99
39-14
31-16
11-63
0-75
, 0-11
1 0-28
0-21
0-22
0-31
0-28
0-43
0-73
7-57
It is seen that the proportion of British stock in the provinces from Ontario east
(Quebec excepted) was, on the average, approaching a half greater than in the Prairie
Provinces. On the other hand, the proportion of foreign European stock in the three
Prairie Provinces was three times greater than in Ontario and Nova Scotia, and ten times
greater than in Quebec, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick.
(2) While the population structure an the East is changing comparatively slowly, the
population structure in the West is in a state of flux. An examination of the population
by nativity brings out. this fact clearly. The proportions of the population foreign born
range from a little over one per cent in Prince Ediward1 Island to nearly 30 p.c. in Alberta
and Saskatchewan and close to 20 p.c. in Manitoba and British Columbia. The largest
proportion shown in any Eastern province was 6 p;c. for Ontario. The proportion Cana-
dian born ranges from over 97 p.c. in Prince Edward Island at the extreme East to approxi-
DISTRIBUTION OF IMMIGRANT STOCKS BY PROVINCES
21'
mately 50 p.c. in the far West. In the eastern provinces and British Columbia the propor-
tion of the population of British birth (outside Canada) is much greater than the propor-
tion of foreign birth; in Manitoba, the numbers are almost equal; in Saskatchewan there
are twice as many foreign born immigrants as immigrants from the British Isles; and in,
Alberta the preponderance of the foreign born is also marked, though not to quite the
same extent. (See Chart 6.)
By way of illustration, a few additional facts are presented. The province of Ontario
showed in actual numbers as many British born immigrants as the entire West, while the
four western provinces, with a combined population smaller than Ontario, bad three times
as many foreign born residents. _ In _ Ontario three-quarters of the immigrants j£eifi_of_
British _birth and one-quarter foreign. In Alberta. .and fiasjkatcriBiwn.n,, two-thirds of the
immigrants were born in foreign countries and only nnp-frhirH wprc ^f "RT-;t,jRh hilfV' In
Manitoba half of the immigrants born were from foreign European countries and three-
quarters of these were from South, East and Central Europe, nine-tenths of whom were
from Slavic countries. In each of the three Prairie Provinces, the South, East and Central
Europeans outnumbered those from Germanic and. Scandinavian countries combined by
from two to three times.
Not only has the composition of the population of Canada radically changed since 1901,
but what is of equal importance from the standpoint of Canadian unity,1 a progressive dif-
ferentiation between East and West has taken place in population structure. That differ-
ence will not only be permanent, but must increase, if immigration and natural increase
(or either) continue on the existing scale.
Chart VI
PERCENTAGEor SPECIFIED FOREIGN NATIVITIES.nthiPOPULATION
or the SEVERAL PROVINCESJ92I
°4o
British Columbia
f&nrip/rtirjre c/'/:b/xt&r//0/r dar/r
%%
22
SUMMARY ON ORIGIN AND BIRTHPLACE
URBAN AND RURAL DISTRIBUTION
(1) An analysis of the rural and urban' distribution of the population by origins in
Canada reveals several significant facts. Approximately one-quarter of the population
of Canada is resident in cities of 25,000 and over. The Hebrews show a proportion of
84-06 p.c, a percentage three times as large as that for the British. The Greeks with
64-20 p.c, the Italians wit'h 47-92 p.c, the Chinese with 44-87 .p.c, and the Negroes with
35-97 p.c, also show an unusual tendency to congregate in large centres. The British with
28-17 px. in such cities are slightly more urban than the total population, and the French
with a percentage of 22-45 slightly less. With the exception of the Boles, the Slavs show
much smaller proportions in cities 25,000 and over than the population as a whole, and
those of Germanic and Scandinavian origin are also among the least urban of the peoples
in Canada. The differences are very great, the proportions in large cities ranging all the
way from 2-66 p.c. for the Ukrainians to 84-06 p.c. for tihe Hebrews.
(2) Of the immigrants, those from Asia, from the British Isles and from Latin and Greek
countries were domiciled in incorporated cities., towns and villages of all sizes to an extent
far greater than those born in Slavic, Germanic and Scandinavian countries. (See Chart 7.)
(3) A distinction between the behaviour of the immigrants in the east and west is
interesting. Those from South, East and Central Europe resident in the Eastern provinces
are more urban than the total population in those provinces, but those in the West are
' somewhat less urban than the population as a whole. Similarly, immigrants from the
I United States tend to settle in. the cities, especially in Ontario and Quebec, but in Saskat-
L chewan and Alberta they take up rural residence. Both in the East and West, the North
Western Europeans are more rural than the populations of the respective provinces in which
they have settled.
There is a marked tendency to segregation among the stocks which congregate in large
cities and among certain very rural peoples; this materially impedes the process of
assimilation.
Chart VII
PERCENTAGES or IMMIGRANTSfrom SPECIFIED COUNTRIES of
BIRTH, DOMICILED in URBAN AREAS, 1921
Asia
British Isles
Latin and Greek Countries
SJLastern and Cent. Europe
Slavic Countries
United States
Germanic Countries
N.Western Europe
Scandinavian Countries
%o
10 20
30
40 SO 60 70%
INTERMARRIAGE OF PERSONS OF DIFFERENT ORIGINS
23
INTERMARRIAGE!
Intermarriage is at once an index and a method of assimilation. The foreign stocks in
Canada show great differences both in respect of the extent to which they have inter-
married with the basic stocks of the country and their inclination to do so. Some stocks,
such as the Orientals, Hebrews and certain of the Slavic peoples, are practically inassimilable
by marriage; others assimilate very readily.
(1) Deailing first with the amount of intermarriage which had taken place by 1921, it
was found that. 3/! -3 n.n. of the married men of North Western Europeans had married out-
side their own stock and 34-3 t>.c, of the women, as against 16-2_pc. of the men and 13-j^p.c.
of the women of South, Eastern and Central European stocks. Thus the North Western
Europeans as a group had intermarried with others more than twice as much as the South,
Eastern and Central Europeans. Of the linguistic groups, the Scandinavians had married
into other stocks to the greatest extent-^approximately 43 p.c. for both men and women ; the
Germanic peoples ranked second with 30 p.c. Only 22-2 p.c. of the men of Latin and Greek
origin had crossed the line of their own stock in marriage, and 15-2 p.c. of the men of Slavic
origin. The figures for the women of the last mentioned origins were even smaller, being
14-4 p.c. for the Slavs; and 7-6 p.c. for the Latins and Greeks. Differences between individual
stocks are still more marked. For example, using the data for the men one finds that 74-2
p.c. of the Danes, 73-7 p.c. of the Swiss and 53 p.c. of the Dutch had married wives of other .
origins, as against 10-6 p.c. for the Austrians, 10-5 p.c. for the Galicians, 9-2 p.c. for the Finns,
7-5 p.c. far the Ukrainians and 4-2 p.c. for the Hebrews. The progress of intenminglinig by
marriage has proceeded farther with the Scandinavian and Germanic origins than with the
Slavic and Latin and Greek peoples. Many stocks have intermarried scarcely ait all.
Chakt VIII
PERCENTAGES orMARRIED MALES and FEMALESor SPECIFIED
ORIGIN MARRIEDtoBRITISHandFRENCHinREGISTRATION
AREA, 1921
0ri6in groups %q
N.Western Europeans
S, Eastern anoCcnt. Eur.
Scandinavian
Germanic
Latin and Greek
Slavic
'/////////. v/jy/AW///jy////////jY//////s.
Y/y////s//y///Ays/jy////0///f////Ar///s////A
mz'///s////<7^a
f/fs //rt//G?fcef6y/te0Jrr'/7/4r<je of c#//t/sr/7 6or/7 //r /Az/ye.srr.1
1 The conclusions in this section are based on the parentage of children born in the Regis-
tration Area in 1921.
24 SUMMARY ON ORIGIN AND BIRTHPLACE
(2) Turning next to the progress of assimilation by intermarriage with the basic stocks
of the country, one finds even greater differences between the foreign stocks. While 24.0
p.c. of .the married males of North Western European origin and 24.6 p.c. of the females had
married into the British and French stocks, only 5.2 p.c. of the men and^2.5 p.c. of the
women of South, Eastern and Central European stock had' done so. Similar differences'
appear in the data for the linguistic groups. (See Chart 8.) Generally speaking, those of
Scandinavian and Germanic origins showed a relatively large amount of intermarriage
with the British, and French, while the Slavs and the women of Latin and1 Greek
origin showed very small percentages. The Italian and Greek males have intermarried
more than the females because of the large surplus of men in the immigration from these
countries.
A study of intermarriage between the foreign stocks and the English speaking peoples
reveals such interesting facts as the following: approximately 43.4 p.c. of the married men
of Dutch origin had married wives of British stock, 36.8 p.c. of the Swiss and 34.5 p^c. of
the Danes. As against these, one finds such strikingly low figures as 3.6 ip.c. for the Poles,
3.3 p.c. for the Roumanians, 1.6 p.c. for the Hebrews, 1.3 p.c. for the Austrians, 0.7 p.c.
for the Ukrainians and 0-5 p.c. for the Galicians.
Important as are such differences, the absolute magnitude of the proportions is of as
great if not greater significance. Assimilation by intermarriage with the British and French
has made some progress among most of -the North Western European peoples, but it has
, scarcely begun with those of the South, Eastern and Central parts of the Continent
(3) Considerations of length of residence in Canada, sex distribution and numerical size
of the several groups interfere with the use of the above percentages as an index of assimila-
bility. As has been pointed out, they merely measure the amount of assimilation by inter-
marriage having already taken place. There appear, however, to be very real differences
between the. groups in respect to ease of assimilation, quite independent of the three more
or less accidental and extraneous factors mentioned above. A multiple correlation was worked
out, and the expected amount of intermarriage was computed for the males of nineteen white
stocks in terms of (1) length of residence as indicated by percentage of stock North
American born, (2) percentage surplus of males (21 years of age and over), and (3) pro-
portion which the stock constituted of the total population of Canada.
In seven out of nineteen cases, the actual amount of intermarriage up to 1921 exceeded
expectation. All seven groups, except the Czechoslovaks, were North Western European
peoples. With the exception of the Dutch and Icelanders, those showing percentages less
than expectation were all South, Eastern and Central Europeans. Moreover, the differences
in assimilability were of no mean order. Intermarriage for the Swedes and Danes, for
example, exceeded expectation by 75 p.c, and that for the Austrians fell short by 42' p.c,
for the Icelanders 52 p.c. and for the Ukrainians by 61 p.c It is a wide spread from 75 p.c
above to 61 p.c. below expectation, and it would be hard to find more conclusive proof that
peculiarities of the different stocks are of major importance in the matter of assimilation.
It was shown, in particular, that segregation was an important barrier to intermarriage
—indeed, the disparity between the figure for the Icelanders and those for the other Scandina-
vian peoples is probably due mainly to geographical and occupational segregation.
That the recorded intermarriage for the Dutch was slightly below expectation is explained by
the segregation of the Mennonites in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and the unusually low
figure for the Ukrainians is attributed in part at least to a similar circumstance. Some stocks
tend to segregate to a much greater extent than do others, and to that extent they are more
difficult to assimilate.
Other barriers also were found to exist, but the principal findings of this subsection
may be summarized as follows: First, the different stocks differ radically in assimilability
by marriage with other stocks in Canada, and secondly, speaking generally, the North Western
Europeans are' possessed of distinctive characteristics favourable to assimilation by marriage, .
while the peculiarities of the South, Eastern and Central Europeans and, in particular, their
tendency to segregate make assimilation abnormally difficult.
INTERMARRIAGE OF PERSONS OF DIFFERENT ORIGINS
25
(4) Of equal importance with the general question of assimilability is the ease of
assimilation with the basic stocks of the country. Greater differences appear in respect
to assimilability with the British. A rough index is given by the proportion of men marrying
outside their respective stocks, who choose wives of British extraction. The disturbing
influences of sex, length of residence and numerical strength of the several groups are
thereby greatly reduced. On the basis of mere chance, something over 50 p.c. of the exoga-
mous marriages would have been contracted with the British. The analysis based on the
Registration Area of 1921 (that is, all Canada, excluding Quebec) shows that of the 'men who
bad married into other stocks only 4-4 p.c. of the Galicians, 8-9 p.c. of the Ukrainians, 12-6
p.c. of the Austrians, 14.1 p.c. of the Roumanians, 18-0 p.c. of the Poles and 19-3 p.c. of the
Russians had married into British stocks, \Vhile 82.0 p.c. of the Dutch', 78.7 p.c. of the Ice-
landers and 68-0 p.c. of bhe Germans had done so. The proportion for the men of the
Germanic stocks was 70-0 p.c, of the Scandinavian 52-1 p.c, of the 'Latins and Greeks 47-4
p.c, and the Slavic 16-8 p.c. The figures for the women were as follows: Germanic stocks.
69-6 p.c; Scandinavian, 56-6 p.c; Latins and Greeks, 17-6 p.c; and Slavic, 15-3 p.c. (See
Chart 9.)
The preference of the Germanic and Scandinavian peoples for the British stocks (or the
preference of the British for them) is clearly brought out, as well as the existence of unusual
resistance to intermarriage between the Latin and Greek and Slavic peoples, and the British.
Certain stocks assimilate fairiy rapidly in Canada's "melting pot"; others move slowly, while
many appear to be practically inassimilable. It is a matter of indifference whether foreign
people fail to marry with the British and French stocks because of aversion on their own
part or on the part of the British and French. The result is the same so far as Canada's
population structure is concerned.
Chaut IX
NUMBER ofMALESandFEMALESofFOREIGN ORIGIN MARRIED.nto
BRITISH STOCKSas. a PROPORTION or the NUMBER MARRIED
OUTSIDEtmeirown STOCK; by SPECIFIED GROUPSorORIGINS
REGISTRATION AREA,I92I.
ORIGIN SROUPS
N.V\fesTERNEu»«<»EANS
S,Eas
Cent.Eu
TERN AND <wENT. C.UR.
Scandinavian
Germanic
Latin and Greek
Slavic
y///////,'///A s//nY/y/rAV////jY////s,
*£00*Z*09**K***2*0**ftgS«***2
WZ?7>7Z77&,7Zm
fds //7c//c<?/e'd ' 4y tfe /sr/fwfr^f 0/ cA/yar/v/7 for/7 //7 /A&/ yr^s:J
26
SUMMARY ON ORIGIN AND BIRTHPLACE
NATURALIZATION
(1) Naturalization is one step in assimilation. Like intermarriage, it has a twofold
aspect. It is, in the first place, an indication of the progress of the assimilative process.
Further, it is indicative of the permanency of the interest of foreign immigrants in the
country. Other things being equal, where foreigners naturalize readily they are usually
more permanent residents than where they remain aliens. Great differences appear in the
extent to which foreigners have naturalized and also in their predisposition to identify them-
selves with Canadian national life and Canadian affairs.
(2) To illustrate the first point, some 86-4 p.c. of the foreign born Icelanders <of all ages
and both sexes had become naturalized by 1921, while the proportion naturalized of the
foreign born Chinese was only 4-8 p.c. The ten groups of foreign born who had naturalized
to the greatest extent were the Icelanders, Hungarians, Norwegians, Swedes, Germans, Gali-
cians, United States born, Russians, Roumanians and Austrians in descending order; the
ten among whom naturalization had progressed least, were the Chinese, Bulgarians, Greeks,
Italians, Japanese, Jugo-Slavs, Belgians, Finns, Turks and Dutch, in ascending order. The
Icelanders had the highest percentage in the first list, and the Chinese the lowest in the
second. The median percentage naturalized for the first group was 65-6 p.c; for the second,
33-6 p.c.
(3) Urbanization is unfavourable to naturalization. When the proportions of the
respective groups living in urban areas are compared with the proportions naturalized, on
the average, a high percentage naturalized is associated with a comparatively small percent-
age urban, and vice versa.
Chart X
NATURALIZED FOREIGN-BORN as PERCENTAGE of the TOTAL
POPULATION by PROVINCES. 1921
% O 2 4 6 B 10 12 14 16 IB 20 2? 24 26^
LANGUAGES SPOKEN AND ILLITERACY 27
(4) Naturalization of the foreign born has progressed to differing degrees and at differ-
ent rates in the nine provinces. The percentages of all foreign born naturalized by prov-
inces were in 1921 as follows: —
Province
P.c.
of Foreign
Born
Naturalized
" 81-3
70-9
67-2
64-1
61-9
55-5
54-5
46-3
40-5
57-8
When the above figures are related to the percentages of the population foreign born
in the various provinces, the following facts are revealed. In the three Prairie Provinces
the proportion of the population foreign born in 1921, was from three to five times greater
than in Ontario and the percentage of those naturalized was larger by half. The net result
was that the naturalized foreign born formed four times as large a proportion of the popula-
tion in Manitoba as in Ontario, and in Saskatchewan and Alberta the proportion was six
times greater than in Ontario. (See Chart 10.)
(5) An indication of the speed of naturalization is given by the percentages naturalized
by date of arrival. The Scandinavians and the United States born have naturalized most
rapidly; the rates for the Slavic and Germanic peoples are about equal and considerably
lower; the rates for the Italians and Greeks are the lowest for any Europeans. Indeed the
rates for the Italians and Greeks up to 1910 were only a little higher than for the Japanese,
and since that time they have been considerably lower. Apparently large numbers of immi-
grants from those countries do not come to Canada with the intention of becoming Cana-
dian citizens. Among the Slavs, the Russians have naturalized the most rapidly and the
Poles, being the most urban, have been the slowest.
LANGUAGES SPOKEN
(1) Only Jj-Q p.c. of those belonging to the North Western European group, 10
years of age and over, were unable to speak French or English, whileJLZJi.p.c. of the South,
Eastern and Central Europeans were unable to do so in 1921. The percentages for the
linguistic groups were: Scandinavians, 2-1; Germanic, 3-4; Latin and Greek, 13-3; and
Slavic, 18-9. Peoples like the Danes, Swiss, Greeks, etc.. learn English comparatively rapidly,
while the Icelanders, Hungarians, Roumanians and Austrians are very slow in acquiring it.
Over one quarter of the Ukrainians were unable to speak either language, yet 55 p.c. of them
were Canadian born.
(2) The extent to which the languages of Canada are acquired and the speed of learn-
ing them is largely a matter of the stock one belongs to, and, on the whole, those people
who intermarry least, not only show the largest percentages ignorant of French and English,
but show the least disposition to acquire those languages.
ILLITERACY
(1) The correlations between illiteracy in the various groups, the proportions unable to
speak English or French and the regularity of school attendance, are very high.
(2) Of the ten most illiterate stocks, nine, come from the South, East and Central parts
of Europe, the tenth being the Chinese. The foreign born of North Western European
origin showed 2-66 p.c. 10 years and over, illiterate; the immigrants from South, Eastern
and Central Europe, 22-31 p.c. The foreign born of Slavic origin are by far the most illiter-
ate people in Canada, showing 24-45 p.c. unable to read or write any language. The
28
SUMMARY ON ORIGIN AND BIRTHPLACE
Ukrainian immigrants are the worst with a proportion of 39-46 p.c. illiterate, and the Aus-
trians are not much better— 35 -OS p.c. of them are illiterate. .The Czechs are different from
the other Slavs in respect to literacy, as in many other particulars; their illiterates represent
only 11-94 p.c. Of the foreign born from Latin and Greek countries, the Roumanians with
27-03 p.c. unable to read or write any language, are the most illiterate; the Italians rank
second with 23-68 p.c. The Greeks are much better, showing only 11-59 p.c. illiterate. All
those percentages, however, are quite high when compared with 3-03 p.c. for tlhe imimiigrante
of Germanic origin, and 1-81 p.c. for the Scandinavians. These data are presented in sum-
mary form in Chart 11.
(2) Birthplace is a factor in illiteracy. The native born show considerably smaller pro-
portions illiterate than the foreign born, which is an evidence of the effectiveness of Cana-
dian schools and other institutions. However, strong ancestral tendencies appear over and
above the influence of nativity, making it very clear that illiteracy is in no small measure a
matter of group heredity.
(3) A comparison of the above data on illiteracy with the distribution of the various
origins by provinces and the proportions naturalized, is rather significant.
Chart XI
PROPORTIONS ILLITERATE AMONG FOREIGN BORN, 10 YRS
andOVER.for SPECIFIED GROUPSof COUNTRIES or BIRTH,
1921.
%o
N. Western Europe
S, Eastern and Cent. Europe
Scandinavian Countries
Germanic Countries
Latin and Greek Countries
Slavic Countries
20
**%
CRIME
The relation of criminality to extraction and birthplace is shown by an examination of
data for reformatory and penitentiary population and of the statistics of convictions for
indictable offences.
(1) Data on Convictions for Indictable Offences. — An analysis of the data covering all
convictions for indictable offences showed that, taking the age and sex distribution as they
actually existed in 1921, the problem of law enforcement was 50 p.c. greater among the
British born and between three and four times more difficult among the foreign born than
CRIME
29
with native Canadians. After age and sex differences were eliminated, the number of con-
victions per 100,000 British born was about equal to that for the Canadian born, but the
number for the foreign born was nearly twice as great.
(2) Reformatory Data. — The proportion of immigrant males and females in reforma-
tories in 1921 was about twice greater than that for the Canadian born. Those of the North
Western European peoples (other than British and French) had 36 per 100,000 children
between 10 and 20 years of age in reformatories, while the South, Eastern and Central
European peoples showed 184. The Scandinavians had 32 per 100,000; the Germanic group,
38; ithe British 135; the Slavs 166; and the Latins and Greeks 340. (See Chart 12.) The
influence of nativity is included in the above figures. They depict the situation as it actu-
ally existed in i921. The influence of nativity may be eliminated by examining separ-
ately the rates for the immigrants and the Canadian born of the various origins. When the
rates are thus freed from the influence of nativity, it appears that the Italian, Greek, Polish,
Russian and Austrian children show many times larger percentages in institutions of cor-
rection than do those of the Germanic and Scandinavian origins.
The data also show that, for the average foreign community, there is marked improve-
ment in the behaviour of the children of the second and subsequent generations in Canada.
Chart XII
NUMBER per 100,000 CHILDREN, 10-20 YRS.in REFORMATORIES,
tor SPECIFIED ORIGIN-GROUPS.I92I
ORIGIN O ?5 50
Si, Eastern and Cent. Eur
N'.Western European
RATE PER 100,000
200 , 2K>
Latin and Greek
Sl/vic
British
French
Germanic
Scandin/vian
-300.
JiSi
(3) Penitentiary Data. — The evidence of the penitentiary population is much the same,
except that the rate for the British born is comparatively low as compared with that for
the foreign born. The crude penitentiary rates per 100,000 population of corresponding
nativity groups, 15 years and over, were for the Canadian born 19, for the British born 27,
and for the foreign born 75 per 100,000. Differences in sex distribution were elim-
inated by examining the data for the males and females separately. The rate for the Cana-
dian born males was found to be 38, for the British born males 49, and for the foreign born
30
SUMMARY OF DATA ON ORIGIN AND BIRTHPLACE
males 127, the latter being more than three times greater than the rate for the Canadian
born. The age distribution of the British and foreign born males is more favourable to
I crime than that of the Canadian born. However, there were only three quinquennial age
! groups between 15 and 60 years when the penitentiary rate for the foreign born males was
f not more than twice that for the Canadian born, and in those three cases the rates were
only slightly less than double. A similar comparison of the Canadian and British born
reveals very small differences between the penitentiary rates for the males of those nativity
groups at the various ages.
While the foreign born as a group were thus less law-abiding by half than the Canadian
born after considerations of -age and sex are eliminated, if one takes the sex and age dis-
tribution as it actually existed in 1921, the problem of law enforcement in respect to major
offences was four times greater for the foreign born than for the Canadian born. Peni-
tentiary data thus confirm the previous conclusions based on indictable offences.
_(4) When the analysis is made by specific countries of birth, it is found that the peni-
tentiary rates for the males 21 years of age and over from the five foreign countries from
which the largest numbers of male immigrants have come in recent years, were as follows: —
Italy 337 Poland 182
Austria 273 Russia 144
Roumania 209
The rate for all foreign born males was 142.
The rate for the North Western European born males was 59, as against 185 for the
South, Eastern and Central European born. That for the Asiatic males was 53 and for the
United States born males, 1591. Taking the linguistic groups, the males 21 years and over
Chart XIII
NUMBERorFOREIGN BORN MALES in PENITENTIARIES per
100,000 MALE POPULATION 21 YRS.ano OVER or SPE-
CIFIED NATIVITY GROUPS, 1921.
[RATE PER 100,000]
0 50 100 ISO 200 250 300
S^Eastern and Cent. Europe
United States*
+tf/f6r<3fedi/efoprv/ess/'o/Tjr/cr/mi/r^/a - no/ seftvrs.
N .Western Europe ■■
Asia R0
Latin and Greek Countries
Slavic Countries
Germanic Countries
Scandinavian Countries
1 The high rate for the United States born is not attributed to the bona fide settler. The
close proximity of the United States and the ease of crossing the international boundary makes
Canada peculiarly subject to temporary visits of professional criminals from that country.
CRIME
31
from Scandinavian countries showed 42 per 100,000 in penitentiaries; those from Germanic
countries, 68; from Slavic countries, 161; and from Latin and Greek countries, 290. The
reader is referred to Chart 13.
(5) The relationship between citizenship and criminality is briefly summarized as fol-
lows: out of 608 foreign born inmates of penitentiaries in 1921, 526 or 87 p.c. were aliens.
The rate for the aliens was 179 and for the naturalized, 20. Similar differences appear in the
rates for the individual countries of birth.
(6) That origin, as well as country of birth, is an important factor in criminality has also
been demonstrated. The negroes are the most criminal in respect of major offences. Of
foreign origins the rates for the Roumanians (341), Italians (239), Greeks (219), Austrians
(196), Serbo-Croats (188), and Russians (141) are very high. That for all Scandinavian
origins combined was 25 per 100,000; for the Germanic, 20; for Slavic origins, 115; and for
the Latins and Greeks, 252. See Chart 14.)
That these differences are by no means accounted for by age and sex distribution is
made clear on examining the data for the Canadian born of the various groups, in the light
of recorded age distribution. Among the Canadian born of all groups the numbers of the
sexes are approximately equal, so that comparisons are not invalidated by considerations of
sex. The age distribution of the Canadian born section of the British, French, Scandinavian
and Germanic stocks was at least as favourable (if not more so) to crime than that of the
Slavic and Latin and Greek peoples, yet the latter showed proportions in penitentiaries
from six to sixteen times greater than shown by the Canadian born of the various North
Western European origins. The Slavic group showed a rate from one-half to four times
greater. These conclusions were confirmed by an examination of the foreign born male
population of the penitentiaries.
Chart XIV
NUMBER in PENITENTIARIES per 100,000 POPULATION
21 YRS. OLD and OVER of SPECIFIED ORIGINS .n
CANADA, 1921
0 SO IOO 150 200 250 SOO
S.,Eastern and Cent. Eur.
N .Western European
Latin and Greek
Slavic
French
British
Scandinavian
Germanic
f
■
.
.
.
32
SUMMARY OF DATA ON ORIGIN AND BIRTHPLACE
OCCUPATIONS
(1) While 87-5 p.c. of the Canadian born males over 15 years of age were engaged
in gainful occupations in 1921, 92-3 p.c. of the British born males and 93-3 p.c. of the
foreign born were gainfully employed. Of the females, 18-2 p.c. of the Canadian born
over 15 years of age were gainfully employed and 19-5 p.c. of the British born, but only
12-4 p.c. of the foreign born.
(2) A summary table showing the proportion of males of different nativity engaged in
the more important industries appears below: —
Occupation
All Classes
Birthplace
Canada
British
Isles
British
Poss'ns.
U.S.A.
Europe
Asia
p.c.
38-16
15-47
6-88
8-43
9-26
11-16
p.c.
40-91
14-52
6-57
7-97
9-29
9-90
p.c.
23-91
20-41
9-83
10-95
9-97
15-25
p.c.
9-51
24-94
. 11-73
11-89
8-38
14-03
p.c.
53-30
10-87
4-40
7-52
7-35
913
p.c.
43-41
14-47
5-78
814
8-88
7-96
p.c.
10-40
18-20
0-48
3-76
Trade '.
9-62
41-98
1 Services include custom and repair, domestic and personal and professional services. These figures are presented
graphically in Chart 15.
Speaking relatively, immigrants from trip British Possessions and British Isles avoid
agriculture, and engage in manufacturing, mining, transportation and construction to a much
greater extent than dlTthe Canadian born! The United States immigrants show the largest^
proportion of all classes in agriculture. The proportion of the European born engaged in
agriculture was approximately the same as that for all Canadian born, and their distri-
bution among the other industries does not radically differ from that of the Canadian
born. That, of course, does not apply to the immigrants from the individual European
countries. Only one-tenth of the Asiatics were in agricultural industries, but 40-21 p.c. were
in domestic and personal service — as large a proportion as is found in agriculture among the
Canadian born males. Most of the other Asiatics are found in logging, fishing, trapping and
especially in the wood and paper manufacturing industries.
(3) Over 50-0 p.c. of all gainfully occupied women of Canadian birth appear in the
service group, half being in domestic and personal service and half in professional occupa-
tions. The women from the British Possessions showed the largest percentage in domestic
and personal service (43-50 p.c), and those from Asia (41-83 p.c), the British Isles
(36-26 p.c.) and Europe (35-58 p.c.) follow in the order named. The United States born
females showed 30-37 p.c. in domestic and personal service as against 24-60 p.c. for the
Canadian born. In the professional services, the Canadian born women lead, the United
States born stand second, those of the other nativity groups engaging in such occupations
to about half the extent.
Manufacturing is the second important occupation for females of all nativity groups;
trade comes third. Speaking generally, the bulk of gainfully employed jmrm'fli-ant wpmgn
are in the servicje_grgup^-especially domestic_and__pexsoaaij considerable proportions are
in manufacture, notably the textile industries; and of the balance, the largest percentage
are engaged in trade.
OCCUPATIONAL DISTRIBUTION OF MALES BY BIRTHPLACES 33
Chart XV
OCCUPATIONAL DISTRIBUTION ofMALE POPULATION by
BIRTHPLACE, 1921
I J United STATE^ |
Canadian Born
%6 10 20 30 40 50 0 10 20 30 40 50 %
Agriculture
Manufacturing
Construction
Transportation
Trade
Services
Agriculture
Manufacturing
Construction
Transportation
Trade.
Services
Bi
ritish Isles
British Possessions
Agricuoure 1
"I
Manufacturing 1
-H
■
Construction 1
-
Transportation 1
■.
i
Trade 1
■i
Services 1
■■■
Europe
i i
■Ao
10 20 30 40 50-0 10 20 30 40 50%
FERTILITY AND INFANT MORTALITY
(1) No direct measure of fertility is obtainable by origin for Canada as a whole, but
the indirect evidence of the age distribution of the various groups in 1921, interpreted in
74422—3
34
SUMMARY OF DATA ON ORIGIN AND BIRTHPLACE
the light of sex distribution and infant mortality rates, suggests that the fertility of the
Slavic, Latin and Greek stocks in Canada isjnuch greater, than that of the British, It
appears also that the fertility of the French, German and Scandinavian stocks, though
somewhat greater than that of the British, was not nearly so high as that for the South,
Eastern and Central Europeans. The proportions of the several groups under ten years of
age are shown in Chart 16. The seven origins with the largest proportions under ten and
the seven with the smallest are as follows: —
The Upper Group
The Lower Group
Origin
■ Ukrainian...
Austrian
Roumanian.
Lithuanian . .
Polish
Hungarian...
Russian
P.c. under
10 years
of age
Origin
36-60
35-31
36-31
34-64
33-70
33-67
32-91
Chinese . . .
Bulgarian.
Irish
Scotch —
English
Negro
Welsh
P.c. under
10 years
of ago
518
14-27
20-00
20-70
21-62
21-96.
22-33.
Each of the first group has a larger surplus of males than have the British stocks in
Canada. In. all cases the infant mortality rates are considerably greater than for the British.
Both of these factors would make for smaller numbers of children. On the other hand,,
the age distribution of the adults is more favourable to fertility. While larger proportions
of. the men of British origin were away during the war, the differential effect of this cir-
Chart XVI
PERCENTAGESofCHILDREN UNDER 10 YRS.ofAGEof speci-
fied GROUPS in CANADA.I92I
ORIGIN
%b
10
15
20 25
30
35 40-<S
N. Western Europe (continental)
S.,Eastern and Cent. Europe
British
Scandinavian
Germanic
Latin and Greek
Slavic
I
cumstance on the proportions under ten years of age was largely offset by an exceptionally-
high marriage rate among the British between the years 1919 and 1921, which was imme-
diately reflected in the number of births. Consequently, differences due to war service may-
be neglected. Unfortunately the relative importance of high fertility cannot be isolated
from the' above data. The table is significant, however, in showing the magnitude of the-
FERTILITY OF DIFFERENT STOCKS 35
combined effect of high birth rate and favourable adult age distribution. In spite of very
high mortality rates and unfavourable sex distribution the proportions of children under ten
years of age in those seven races were approximately two-thirds greater than obtained for
the British stock in Canada. The Italians, with an infant mortality rate considerably larger
than that for the British and with half again as many men as women in Canada, show
32-04 p.c. of their population under ten years of age. The Greeks, with between two and
three times more adult males than females and an infant mortality rate higher than the
Italians, showed a proportion under ten years of age some 25 p.c. larger than the average
figure for the British stocks.
Such facts are important as indicating the relative proportions which the several races
contributed to the rising generation in the nine years preceding 1921. So long as the
conditions remain-as in the past decade, the natural increase of foreign stocks and especially
of the South, Eastern and Central Europeans, will continue to be about one-half again as
large as that for the British stock.
(2) The 1926 Census of the three Prairie Provinces and the Annual Reports- on Vital
Statistics furnish sufficiently detailed data to permit the elimination of the factor of age
in studying birth rates for women of various origins (though no correction is possible for
conjugal condition). It was found that the stocks which are most illiterate and most rural
multiply much more rapidly than those, with higher educational standards and larger per-
centages in incorporated cities, towns and villages. It is especially significant that at least
the second, and probably subsequent generations of the non-British stocks, appear to have
somewhat higher birth rates than the original immigrants. How long these high rates will
continue is a matter of speculation, as is the extent to which differences in birth rates are
occasioned by bona fide differences in fertility and differences in the proportions of women
marrying — especially at earlier ages.
The striking correlation with illiteracy recalls the close relationship established in earlier
chapters between illiteracy, intermarriage, school attendance, learning of the languages of
Canada and crime. Now high fertility may be added. It is not necessary to repeat that
the groups which have the lowest educational standards and intermarry least appear most
frequently in criminal statistics nor to review the growing predominance of these among
-recent immigrants from Europe. The mere mention of these facts is adequate to establish
the significance of the exceptionally high birth rates among the women of such stocks and
the tendency to increase rather than diminish.
(3) The infant mortality rate in 1925 for the average British stock in Canada was 6.16
per 100 births, for the average Scandinavian people 5.37, for the average Slavic people
8.97, for the Latins and Greeks 10.73, for the average Asiatic stock 10.86, and for the
French 11.45. From the four Slavic stocks with the highest infant mortality rates, viz.,
Austrians (13.76), Polish (12.30), Ukrainian (9.75), and Russian' (9.15), Canada has derived
the great bulk of her Slavic immigration during the last two decades.
SUMMARY TABLES'
Summary tables are appended which present -the principal findings of the report in
such form that the standing of each of the immigrant groups and stocks in Canada may
be seen at a glance. The vertical columns give comparative standing in respect to each
of the different points studied; reading horizontally, the standing of each group is obtained
on all counts. The irregular nature of many of the series and the comparatively small
number of groups from a statistical point of view, made it impracticable to follow any
uniform plan in designating the percentages as "large", "small", "average", etc. The
procedure was varied with the nature of the dispersion, hoping thereby to suit more closely
the verbal ranking to the actual figures. Where data are not included, they were either
considered as of minor importance, as obviously unrepresentative or were not available.
Tables 2, 3, 5 and 6 being verbal summaries no further comment is necessary.
74422— 3J
TABLE I.
-SUMMARY TABLE SHOWING STANDING OF THE POPULATION OF VARIOUS ORIGINS IN CANADA ACCORDING TO
SPECIFIED HEADINGS, 1921.
CD
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
(10)
(ID
(12)
Pro-
portion
(13)
(14)
(15)
(16)
(17)
Pro-
Per cent
Per cent
Pro-
Pro-
Pro-
portion
of total
of total
portion
10 years
Pro-
portion
portion
of males
mar-
married
10 years
Pro-
and over
Pro-
portion
of
Pro-
of males
15 years
and over
ried
males
and over
portion
who did
Pro-
portion
21 years
and over
foreign
Infant
Origin
Number
Per cent
Per cent
portion
Per cent
15 years
males
married
speaking
10 years
not speak
portion
10-20
born
mortality
in Canada
Cana-
United
under
surplus
and over
marrying
mar-
into
English
and over
English
10 years
in
in peni-
males 21
(deaths
1921
dian
States
10 years
males
married
outside
ried
British
or French
unable
or French
and
reforma-
tentiaries
years and
per 100
born
born
of age
outside
race who
into
and
as their
to speak
as native
over
tories
(rate per
over in
born)
their own
married
British
French
mother
English
tongue
illi-
per 100,000
100,000
peniten-
~~
stock*
into
British
stock*
stock*
stock*
tongue
or French
but had
learned it
by 1921
terate
population
both
sexes)
tiaries
(rate per
100,000)
British—
English
2,545,496
1,107,817
1.173,637
41,953
2,452,751
68-34
85-48
76-58
56-29
97-02
4-24
4-66
3-57
8-56
2-06
21-61
20-00
20-70
22-33
27-79
4
4
6
23
1
23-5
53-7
49-2
78-9
151
:
12-2
95-5
93-0
95-0
89-6
97-1
:
-
-
1-00
1-37
1-09
0-69
7-96
168
96
100
167
99
36
37
. 23
35
77
7-34
6-70
Scotch
615
Welsh
4-46
French
11-45
Scandinavian —
Danish
21,124
15,876
42-18
55-06
19-51
6-35
25-26
22-47
36
2
74-2
16-7
46-4
78-7
34-4
13-2
34-38
1317
31-2
6-1
1-4
5-9
98-0
93-7
1-49
2-01
71
0
61
23
132
0
4-75
Icelandic
3-39
Norwegian
68,856
34-23
32-22
26-88
30
41-3
54-8
22-6
22-63
17-1
1-3
98-4
1-38
15
19
29
6-84
61,503
35-33
18-90
23-55
38
44-6
48-3
21-6
23-43
17-4
2-2
97-3
2-34
49
20
36
6-48
Germanic —
Dutch
117,506
20,234
294,636
82-77
33-41
71-74
8-66
3-63
13-58
24-79
23-82
24-90
8
20
9
53-0
28-2
248
82-0
33-6
680
43-4
' 9-5
16-8
43-46
27-90
16-83
72-3
37-8
46-0
7-7
4-1
1-7
72-3
77-2
96-5
2-29
5-69
315
28
23
42
19
54
17
107
99
46
6-00
Flemish
9-17
German
7-51
Latin and Greek —
5,740
66,769
13,470
30-64
43-03
44-75
2- 13
2-86
1-07
26-83
3204
35-31
161
47
40
51-3
19-3
23-5
53-6
57-4
141
27-5
111
3-3
27-50
1110
3-40
8-8
7-5
2-9
6-5
12-3
13-4
91-8
830
860
10-81
19-44
23-73
370
370
177
219
239
341
273
337
209
1015
8-19
Roumanian
13-86
467
72-81
7-28
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2,208
44-84
13-99
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Slavic —
107,671
1,765
52-12
14-96
1-30
0-62
35-31
14-27
23
366
10-6
48-5
12-6
48-5
1-3
. 23-5
1-55
27-94
3-5
3-4
18 2
81-1
27-47
23 -40
159
635
196
54
273
1,064
13-76
Czech
8,840
381
1,970
44-00
39-37
41-63
11-81
1-57
2-23
28-17
34-64
20
34-5
27-9
9-6
11-66
10-5
6-2
92-8
9-25
18-41
0
0
24
45
. 6-37
Lithuanian
_
Polish
53,403
100,064
3.906
51-78
49-65
36-33
2-82
6-15
5-99
33-70
32-91
27-40
20
23
83
20-0
22-8
33 0
180
19-3
290
3-6
4-4
8-9
3-60
4-40
8-93
5-5
4-2
5-2
13-6
16-9
85-4
82-3
19-57
19-55
19-65
317
285
292
121
141
18S
182
144
0
12-30
Russian
6-02
Serbo-Croatian. .
5-47
Ukrainian
106,721
54-15
0-28
36-60
18
7-5
8-9
0-7
0-67
0-6
26-2
73-6
30-39
0
5
-
9-75
24,456
52-21
0-41
-
21
10-5
4-4
0-5
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
27
915
2
o
to
o
c
>,
to
Co
►-a
S3
t»
O
feq
Bukovinian
Rutbenian..
Ukrainian..
Other European-
Finnish
Hebrew
Hungarian
Swiss
Asiatic —
Armenian
Chinese
Japanese
Syrian
Turkish
Hindu
Others—
Indian
Negro
1,616
16,861
63,788
52-54
56-25
54-38
0-50
014
0-26
-
24
15
18
-
-
-
_
-
-
-
_
:
_
32
21,494
126,196
13,181
12,837
36-96
40-33
5001
61-87
6-64
3-84
4-36
13-16
26-54
25-98
33-67
22-60
27
3
11
19
9-2
4-2
14-4
73-7
441
34-8
13-5
500
4-1
1-6
1-9
36-8
406
1-46
1-94
36-85
30
3-5
3-2
61-8
141
5-4
10-4
0-6
84-7
94-2
89-2
93-8
10-85
7-38
12-09
101
46
32
0
62
49
54
13
104
111
199
665
39,587
15,868
8,282
313
26-92
7-49
27-31
49-77
41-85
1-50
0-09
0-10
3-05
2-24
5- 18
2403
32-71
68
1,433
97
25
29-7
7-1
1-6
29-9
45-5
47-6
600
48-3
13-5
3-4
10
14-4
4-08
9-5
32- 1
411
3-9
;
30-39
19-55
16-53
268
0
168
56
28
26
57
39
0
377
1,016
"
"
"
-
-
~
~
~
~
-
-
-
-
-
-
110,814
18,291
99 11
74-82
0-60
16-94
27-83
21-96
3
8
10-0
7-1
44-2
542
4-4
3-8
4-42
3-85
:
43-9
-
8-41
54
602
51
415
-
6-65
418
18-22
7-93
1111
4-58
8-64
11-80
18-18
21 09
15-95
O
o
;*-
a
is
to
Cn
o
O
•Percentages based on Registration Area only.
few
few
■-a
&o
•S
O
O
Go
TABLE 2— VERBAL SUMMARY TABLE SHOWING STANDING OF THE POPULATION OF VARIOUS ORIGINS IN CANADA ACCORDING TO SPECIFIED
HEADINGS, 1921.
en
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)'
(10)
(11)
(12)
Pro-
portion
(13)
(H)
(15)
(16)
(17)
Pro-
Pro-
Pro-
portion
Per cent
Per cent
Pro-
10 years
Pro-
portion
portion
of males
of total
of total
portion
■ Pro-
and over
Pro-
portion
of
Pro-
of males
15 years
mar-
married
10 years
portion
who did
Pro-
portion
21 years
and over
foreign
Infant
Origin
Number
Per cent
Per cent
portion
Per cent
15 years
and over
ried
males 1
and over
10 years
and over
not speak
portion
10-20
born
mortality
in Canada
Cana-
United
under
surplus
and over
marrying
males
married
speaking
English
or French
10 years
in
in peni-
males 21
(deaths
1921
dian
States
10 years
males
married
outside
mar-
into
English
unable
and
reforma-
tentiaries
years and
per 100
born
born
of age
outside
race who
ried
British
or French
to speak
as native
over
tories
(rate per
over in
born)
their own
married
into
and
as their
English
or French
tongue
but had
illi-
per 100,000
100,000
peniten-
stock
into
British
French
mother
terate
population
both
tiaries
British
stock
stock
tongue
learned it
sexes)
(per rate
stock
by 1921
100,000)
British—
v. 1.
v.l.
v. 1.
av.
v.l.
v.l.
v.l.
v.l.
1.
v.l.
av.
1.
av.
1.
s.
8.
8.
S.
S.
1.
V. s.
s.
s.
av.
v. s.
av.
v.l.
v.l.
v.l.
8.
v.l.
av.
v.l.
v.l.
v.l.
v.l.
v.l.
-
-
-
v. s.
V. 8.
V. 8.
V. 3.
3.
av.
av.
av.
av.
av.
8.
S.
S.
S.
av.
av.
Irish
av.
Scotch ; .
8.
Welsh
V. 8.
1.
Scandinavian —
av.
6.
8.
av.
v.l.
av.
av.
1.
V. 8.
v.l.
av.
av.
v.l.
v.l.
av.
v.l.
av.
1.
s.
V. 8.
S.
v.l.
1.
V. 8.
V. 8.
8.
av-.
8.
1.
V. 8.
Icelandic
V. 3.
Norwegian
1.
V. 8.
v.l.
1.
1.
1.
v.l.
1.
av.
av.
V. 8.
v.l.
V. s.
V. S.
V. 8.
V. 8.
av.
1.
V. S.
v.l.
av.
1.
1.
1.
1.
av.
av.
8.
v.l.
V. 8.
S.
v. a.
3.
s.
Germanic —
Dutch
1.
av.
v.l.
V.l.
V. s.
1.
1.
av.
v.l.
av.
av.
av.
S.
av.
s.
vA.
av. .
av.
v.l.
av.
v.l.
v.l.
av.
av.
v.l.
1.
av.
v.l.
1.
1.
av.
s.
3.
V. s.
s.
v.l.
V. B.
8.
V. 8.
V. 8.
V. 3.
8.
V. 3.
av.
s.
av.
av.
s.
s.
Flemish
av.
German
av.
Latin and Greek —
s.
1.
s.
V. 8.
8.
S.
8.
8.
V. 8.
1.
v.l.
v.l.
1.
1.
v.l.
av.
av.
v.l.
v.l.
s.
v.l.
av.
v. s.
v.l.
av.
v. s.
av.
av.
V. 8.
av.
av.
av.
1.
3.
av.
av.
av.
v.l.
V.l.
V.l.
1.
v.l.
v.l.
v.l.
v.l.
av.
1.
1.
av.
1.
Spanish
v. s.
1.
1.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
v. s.
8.
V. 1.
-
-
-
-
-
-
~
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Slavic —
1.
av.
V. 8.
v.l.
av.
8.
8.
V. s.
V. s.
8.
1.
s.
v.l.
av.
1.
1.
1.
s.
V. s.
V. 8.
V. 8.
v.l.
1.
1.
1.
1.
V. 8.
-
-
v.l.
v.l.
av.
v.l.
-
Czech
s.
v. s.
v. s.
av.
s.
s.
V.l.
s.
s.
V. 1.
V.l.
av.
1.
av.
av.
av.
av.
av.
1.
s.
av.
:
s.
8.
3.
Lithuanian
_
Polish
1.
1.
V. s.
av.
av.
s.
av.
1.
1.
V.l.
V.l.
av.
av.
av.
v.l.
av.
av.
1.
8.
8.
av.
8.
8.
8.
s.
s.
av.
s.
s.
8.
1.
1.
av.
s.
1.
1.
1.
v.l.
1.
1.
i!
l.
1.
1.
1.
Russian
8.
Serbo-Croatian. .
V. 3.
Ukrainian
1.
av.
v. s.
v.l.
av.
V. 8.
v. s.
V. S.
V. 8.
V. s.
1.
V. s.
v.l.
-
-
-
1.
av.
av.
V. s.
-
av.
8.
v. s.
V. 3.
-
-
-
-
-
-
V.S.
V. 8.
av.
Bukovinian....
v. s.
av.
V. s.
-
av.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Go
to
O
o
to
►-a
"a
Ruthenian...
Ukrainian
Other European —
Finnish
Hebrew
Hungarian
Swiss...
Asiatic —
Armenian
Chinese. ......
Japanese
Syrian
Turkish
Hindu
Others—
Indian
Negro
v. 1.
1.
av.
I.
V. s.
-
s.
av.
V. s.
~
av.
a.
1.
av.
av.
s.
av.
av.
v. a.
av.
av.
v.l.
v. a.
1.
v.l.
av.
av.
V. s.
s.
_
v.l.
V. s.
V. 8.
v. a.
v.l.
V. 8.
V. 8.
av.
v.l.
av.
8.
v.l.
av.
s.
8.
-
-
~
-
■*
~
v.l.
V. s.
1.
V. 8.
1.
v.l.
av.
V. 8.
V. s.
8.
V.l.
].
av.
av.
1.
v.l.
1.
av.
v.l.
v.l.
av.
v. s.
V. 8.
V.l.
V. 3.
V.l.
av.
V. 8.
v.l.
v.l.
v.l.
av.
1.
av.
1.
av.
v. 8.
v.l.
1.
av.
v 1.
av.
v. a.
av.
1.
v.l.
av.
av.
v.l.
v.l.
v.l.
Co
O
St)
it.
fti
>-
a
"3
tSI
to
l—l
Co
>-1
O
Go
O
■*!
fcq
to
Co
O
O
Co
Key to abbreviations: — l.=large, v.l. = very large, av.=average, a. av=above average, b. av=below average, s.=small, v.s.= very small, r.=rapid, sl.=slow.
TABLE 3.-SUMMARY TABLE SHOWING STANDING OF SPECIFIED GROUPS OF ORIGINS 'IN CANADA ACCORDING TO SPECIFIED HEADINGS, 1821'.
g
(i)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
(10)
(11)
(12)
Pro-
portion
(13)
(14)
(15)
(16)
(17)
Pro-
Pro-
Pro-
portion
Per cent
Per cent
Pro-
10 years
and over
Pro-
portion
portion
of males
of total
of total
portion
Pro-
Pro-
portion
of
Pro-
of males
15 years
mar-
married
10 years
and over
portion
who did
Pro-
portion
21 years
- foreign
Infant
Groups of
Number
Per cent
Per cent
portion
Per cent
15 years
and over
ried
males
10 years
not speak
portion
10-20
and over
born
mortality
Origins
in Canada
Cana-
United
under
surplus
and over
marrying
males
married
8 peaking
and over
English
or French
10 years
in
in peni-
males 21
(deaths
1021
dian
States
10 years
males
married
outside
mar-
into
English
unable
and
reforma-
tentiaries
years and
per 100
born
born
of age
outside
race who
ried
British
or French
to speak
as native
over
tories
(rate'per
over in
born)
their own
married
into
and
as their
English
tongue
illi-
per 100,000
100,000)
peniten-
stock
into
British
stock
British
stock
French
stock
mother
tongue
or French
but had
learned it
by 1921
terate
population
both
sexes)
tiaries
(rate per
100,000)
(Regis-
(Regis-
(Regis-
(Regis-
tration
tration
tration
tration
Area)
Area)
Area)
Area)
_
4,868,903
2,452,751
612,572
74,12
97-02
6306
4-21
2-06
14-95
210
27-8
24-8
5
1
15
151
33-3
81-4
63-6
12-3
21-3
240
100-0
100-0
43-4
0
0
30
92-4
1-10
7-96
2-66
135
99
36
33
35
21
118
45
6-16
11-45
Other North
Western European
6-39
South, Eastern
and Central
European
508,050
49-24
3-00
33-7
26
16-2
26-4
4-2
5-2
4-0
17-5
84-7
22-31
184
138
223
10-32
Scandinavian
167,359
37-61
23-27
250
31
42-7
52- 1
22-2
241
17-9
2-1
96-9
1-81
32
25
42
5-37
432,376
88,654
72-95
42-69
11-78
2-84
24-8
32-2
9
51
. 29-2
22-2
700
47-4
20-5
10-6
22-8
13-5
52-7
6-9
3-4
13-3
84-4'
85-9
3-03
19-45
38
340
20
252
48
358
7-56
Latin and Greek. .
10-73
Slavic
. 384,721
64,715
v. 1.
v. 1.
51-41
1804
v. 1.
v. 1.
2-78
0-05
V. 8.
V. 8.
34-5
13-4
8.
1.
22
372
v. s.
v. s.
14-8
V. B.
16-8
v. 1.
2-5
av.
3-2
3-4
all
all
18-9
none
none
830
24-45
V. 8.
1.
166
1.
8.
115
8.
8.
192
av.
8-97
10-86
8.
French
V. 1.
Other North West-
ern European
1.
1.
1.
av.
s.
V. 1.
v. 1.
1.
1.
v. 1.
V. 8.
1.
V. 3.
V. 8.
V. 8.
v. s.
8.
South, Eastern and
Central Europ-
1.
av.
av.
s.
V. 8.
V. 1.
v. 1.
av.
1.
1.
8.
V. 1.
. v. s.
1.
v. s.
V. 1.
v. a.
v. 1.
v. s.
s.
V. 1.
V. 8.
8.
V. 1.
V. 1.
V. 8.
V. 1.
V. 8.
V. 1.
V. s.
v. 1.
V. 8.
V. 1.
V. 8.
Germanic
1.
8.
v. 1.
8.
1.
V. 8.
av.
v. 1.
s.
v. 1.
1.
s.
V. 1.
1.
V. 1.
1.
v. 1.
1.
V. 1.
V. 8.
V. 8.
1.
8.
8.
V. 8.
V. 1.
V. 8.
V. 1.
V. s.
V. 1.
V. s.
V. 1.
1.
Latin and Greek.. .
V. 1.
1. •
8.
av.
V. 8.
V. 3.
V. 8.
v. 1.
V. 8.
1.
v. 1.
8.
V. 8.
v. s.
T.S .
V. 8.
V. 1.
8.
V. 1.
V. 1.
V. 1.
V. 1.
1.
Asiatic
V. 1.
1=3
O
"*]
b
o
o
So
^'
to
to
S3
o
feq
1 The Mennonites in the West cause this figure to be lower than it should be to be representative.
;For key to abbreviations see Table II, page 38.
ANALYSIS OF DATA BY COUNTRY OF BIRTH
41
TABLE 4.— SUMMARY TABLE SHOWING STANDING OF IMMIGRANTS BY COUNTRY OF BIRTH
ACCORDING TO SPECIFIED HEADINGS. CANADA, 1921.
Country of birth
CD
Number
of immi-
grant
population
in
Canada
1921
(2)
Numerical
increase
1901-11 1911-21
(3)
P.c. increase
1901-11 1911-21
(4)
Propor-
tion in
Canada
before
1901
(5)
Average
length of
residence
of those
coming
since
1901
(6)
Surplus
males
per 100
females
(7)
Propor-
tion
urban
(8)
Propor-
tion
natural-
ized
(9)
Num-
ber
per
100,000
adult
males in
peni-
tenti-
aries
British Countries —
England
Ireland
Scotland
Wales
Scandinavian —
Denmark
Iceland
■ Norway
Sweden
Germanic —
Belgium
Germany
Holland
Latin and Greek —
Greece
Italy
Roumania
Slavic Countries —
Austria
Bulgaria
Czechoslovakia.
Galicia
Jugo-Slavia
Poland
Russia
Ukraine
Oilier Europe —
Hungary
Switzerland
Finland
France
Asiatic —
China
Japan
Syria
Turkey
United States
698,021
109,196
233,019
14,746
8,092
6,127
23,102
28,151
12,739
43,253
10,068
3,859
36,125
60,162
1,490
3,906
11,588
2,253
24,246
44,228
28,932
6,014
3,205
12,123
22,485
36,586
11,518
3,907
175
374,024
309,389
8,755
85,760
6,209
2,862
1,052
5,695
12,277
3,423
2,427
27,885
9,675
10,040
3,751
1,685
1,504
175,781
175,989
427
57,092
5,052
2,255
333
526
5,301
14,311
2,020
1,129
792
9,967
2,633
4,652
3,093
1,169
1,630
9,841
3,225
972
1,460
70,344
153-71
8-61
102-55
246-58
137-93
17-37
379-66
249-78
44-97
889-09
1,139-44
406-84
121-79
58-91
80-25
137-89
421-29
137-44
34-46
0-46
33-70
57-89
45-68
-4
10-30
-1-86
66-47
-36-16
53-05
42-77
2-28
-14-77
155-89
14-83
-29-22
10-64
9-25
36-34
38-28
33-44
78-45
23-16
17-34
59-18
7-99
14-31
10-62
4110
4-91
5-31
8-63
13-16
1711
2-19
12-03
16-01
5-04
10-48
17-50
11-62
11-29
18-97
8-97
21-54
16-54
12-24
23-25
13-47
14-20
9-7
14-8
11-6
11-9
8-5
12-3
9-5
9-5
9-5
12-0
10-3
10-9
12-6
9-3
10-9
10-3
9-3
12-2
9-3
14
14
14
11
118
-1
77
32
30
49
369
114
39
45
667
41
37
189
36
29
57
24
73
57
19
2,867
148
61
140
11
31-49
37-57
21-86
24-60
40-64
37-24
40-90
89-33
75-81
51 12
35-33
52-83
41-42
24-39
49-69
67-30
56-25
41-85
37-50
44-64
33-31
52-37
71-66
38-16
85-02
84-54
42-63
56-3
86-4
71-7
67-4
42-1
65-9
48-4
29-3
30-2
60-5
59-4
22-4
55-7
65
33-7
51-0
62-4
54-7
4
33-5
58-4
46-6
63-6
132
0
29
36
46
107
273
337
209
273
1,064
45
27
0
182
144
32
111
199
104
77
57
39
0
377
159
42
SUMMARY OF DATA ON ORIGIN AND BIRTHPLACE
TABLE 5 — VERBAL SUMMARY SHOWING STANDING OF IMMIGRANTS BY COUNTRY OF BIRTH,
ACCORDING TO SPECIFIED HEADINGS, 1021.'
Country of birth
Number
of immi-
grant
population
in Canada
1921
Increase
1901-1911
Increase
1911T1921-
Propor-
tion in
Canada
before
1901
Average
length of
residence
of those
coming
since
1901
Surplus
males
per 100
females
Propor-
tion
urban
Propor-
tion
natural-
ized
v.l.
v.l.
v.l.
V. 8.
1.
av.
V. 8.
-
-
v. s.
-
-
v.l.
v.l.
V.l.
-
-
V. 8.
-
-
8.
av.
av.
-
-
v. s.
-
-
S.
s.
av.
1.
av.
1.
V. s.
av.
s.
V. s.
V. S.
v.l.
a. av.
0
3.
v.l.
av.
-
-
s.
av.
av.
V. S.
v.l.
av.
-
V. s.
av.
av.
av.
V. 8.
v.l.
s.
s.
av.
s.
b. av.
s.
av.
8.
av.
1.
1.
v.l.
a. av.
s.
s.
1.
s.
s.
av.
v. s.
av.
av.
av.
S.
v. s.
s.
8.
v. s.
av.
v.l.
v.l.
V. 8.
av.
1.
v. s.
s.
av.
1.
v.l.
V. 8.
v. s.
-
-
av.
a. av.
s.
1.
1.
1.
-
I.
1.
av.
av. -
8.
av.
v. s.
-
-
V. s.
av.
v.l.
1.
v.s.
V. s.
-
av.
av.
-
av.
av.
av.
s.
-
av.
av.
-
s.
1.
1.
v. s.
-
-
v. s.
-
v.l.
av.
s.
av.
-
-
s.
av.
8.
1.
av.
I.
-
. -
I.
av.
S.
1.
1.
av.
-
-
av.
-
av.
av.
av.
s.
-
av.
av.
a. av.
v. s.
8.
v.l.
v. s.
-
-
1.
av.
av.
av.
av.
s.
-
s.
s.
av.
av.
s.
s.
av.
av.
8.
v.l.
av.
v. s.
1.
av.
av.
av.
1.
av.
b. av.
v.l.
I.
v. s.
s.
s.
av.
av.
av.
I..
8.
s.
v. s.
V. 3.
s.
v.l.
a. av.
av.
V.l.
av.
v. s.
V. S.
s.
av.
av.
1. ■
V.l.
8.
v. I.
V. 1.
v.l.
av.
—
V. 8.
av.
'■
Number
per
100,000
adult
males in
peni-
tentiaries
British Countries —
England
Ireland
Scotland
Wales
(Scandinavian —
Denmark
Iceland
Norway
Sweden
Germanic —
Belgium
Germany ,
Holland
Latin and Greek —
Greece
Italy
Roumania
Slavic —
Austria ,
Bulgaria ,
Czechoslovakia..
Galicia ,
Jugo Slavia
Poland
Russia
Ukraine
Other European —
Hungary
Switzerland
Finland
France
Asiatic —
China
Japan
Syria
Turkey
United States
av.
0
v.s.
v. a.
av.
v.l.
v.l.
1.
v.l.
v.l.
s.
V. s.
0
1.
av.
V. 8.
av.
1.
av.
v. s.
0
I.
av.
TABLE 6.— SUMMARY TABLE SHOWING STANDING OF IMMIGRANTS BY GROUPS OF COUNTRIES
OF BIRTH ACCORDING TO SPECIFIED HEADINGS, 1921».
Nativity
CD
No.
Canada
1921
(2)
Numerical
Increase
1901-11 1911-21
(3)
Percentage
Increase
1901-11 1911-21
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7) "
(8)
Propor-
tion in
Canada
before
1901
Surplus
males
per 100
females
Propor-
tion of
popula-
tion
urban
Propor-
tion
natural-
ized
Speed of
natural-
ization
18-32
14
65-30
-
-
21 '20
■ 50
34-50
60-8
-
14-35
17-08
27-23
46
• 75
33
50-12
25-75
38-74
49-4
70-5
52-1
~
12-80
15-81
15-98
14-20
88
38
625
11
63-97
46-88
65-50
42-63
40-0
50-6
63-6
-
av.
v.s.
v.l.
-
-
1.
av.
s.
1.
-
s.
av.
av.
av.
-
av.
1.
v.s.
v.l.
v. r.
v.l.
s.
s. •
av.
av.
v.s.
1.
v.l.
v.s.
v. si.
av.
s.
av.
av.
av.
av.
V.I.
v.l.
v. s.
v. si.
av.
v. s.
s.
1.
v. r.
(9)
Rateper
100,000
adult
males in
peni-
tentia-
aries
British countries .
North Western Europe
(continental)
South Eastern and Cen-
ral Europe
Scandinavian countries. .
Germanic countries
Latin and Greek coun-
tries
Slavic countries
Asiatic countries
United States
British countries
Other North Western
Europe
South, Eastern and Cen-
tral Europe
Scandinavian countries. .
Germanic countries
Latin and Greek coun-
tries
Slavic countries
Asiatic countries
United States
,054,982
157,220
232,224
65,470
66,060
47,282
166,805
52,186
374,024
v.l.
av.
1.
av.
av.
s.
v.l.
s.
v.l.
412,710
73,922
157,617
42,852
21,395
39,987
91,028
17,366
175,781
v.l.
1.
v.l.
av.
v. s.
v.l.
231,379
1,805
85,561
3,d55
6,990
3,551
20,966
12,690
70,344
v.l.
1.
v.s.
v.s.
av.
v.l.
s 98-65
131-31
232-57
233-04
71-40
266-38
308-85
73-65
137-44
« 27-47
- 1-38
15-41
5-81
-13-61
6-46
17-40
30-99
23-16
49
59
185
42
290
161
53
'159
v.l.
v. s.
v.l.
v.l.
v.l.
1 Largely professional criminals rather than settlers.
' British Isles.
3For key to abbreviations see Table II, page 38.
CHAPTER I
ORIGINS OF THE POPULATION OF CANADA
Canada is able to determine from time to time, within reasonable limits of accuracy,
the proportions of the various origins which make up her population. A body of material
is now available on the changing composition of the Canadian population which .gives
a necessary perspective to a study of its structure. This is particularly desirable at the
present time when Canada is entering upon a new expansion which may- bring a heavy
flow of new citizens from various quarters of the earth.
A nation composed of many diverse stocks presents a different problem from that of
one with a small admixture of foreign elements. There is in the first place the biological
aspect. In certain parts of the world, the problem of the half-caste or half-breed has
assumed grave proportions. Canada's problems in this respect are largely potential. There
are also the various cultural sides of intermingling. Peoples of different stocks have different
educational, moral, economic, religious and political backgrounds. It is with the changing
proportion of the different stocks in Canada since the beginning of the century that this,
initial chapter is concerned.
THE PROPORTION OF SPECIFIED ORIGINS IN THE POPULATION OF CANADA
The proportion of the various stocks in Canada, in 1901, 1911 and 1921, is shown by
principal origins in Table 7. Changes in these proportions are due to the joint operation
of three main forces: first, immigration; secondly, emigration; and thirdly, natural increase.
Attention is first drawn to the present composition of our population. Column 1
shows that in 1921 somewhat over half of the population of Canada was of British stock,
and over a quarter of the population, French. The other European origins combined con-
stituted only 14.16 p.c. of the total, and the Asiatics less than 1 p.c. The Indians made
up one and a quarter per cent, while the proportion of Negroes stood at a very low figure
of less than one-quarber of one ip.c. All coloured peoples totalled slightly over 2 p.c. of the
population. Thus the population of Canada, as a whole, is as yet predominantly of
British and French stock; these two constituted over 83 p.c. of the people domiciled in
Canada at the date of the last census.
TABLE 7.— PROPORTION OF VARIOUS STOCKS IN THE POPULATION OF CANADA, 1921, AS
COMPARED WITH 1911 AND 1901.
Origins
P.c. of total population
1921
1911
1901
55-iO
U -08
57-OS
28-96
25-30
23-47
12-60
14-58
18-41
13-36
13-85
14-90
0-48
0-35
0-25
B7-91
esse
SO -70
U-1S
11-81
8-51
1-23
0-59
0-20
0-23
013
006
0-17
0-08
0-01
0-10
-
-
1-34
0-76
0-63
0-24
0-22
0-05
3-35
5-46
5-78
0-06
0-05
0-01
1-44
105
0-30
0-14
0-16
0-03
0-76
0-63
0-20
0-61
0-46
0-12
1-14
0-60
0-37
1-90
1-49
0-58
004
-
-
015
009
007
British
English
Irish
Scotch
Other
French
Other Europeans
Austrian
Belgian
Bulgarian and Roumanian
Czech (Bohemian and Moravian)
Dutch
Finnish
German
Greek
Hebrew
Hungarian
Italian
Polish
Russian
Scandinavian *
Serbo Croatian
Swiss
43
44
ORIGINS OF- THE POPULATION OF CANADA
TABLE 7.-PR0P0RTI0N OF VARIOUS STOCKS IN THE POPULATION OF CANADA, 1921, AS
COMPARED WITH 1911 AND 1901- Concluded.
Origins
P.c. of total population
1921
1911 '
1901
0-02 »
014
- 3
0-28
0-49
011
0-19
0-41
- 4
0-73
-
-
0-75
0-60
0-44
0-45
0-39
0-32
001
0-03
-
0-18
013
0-09
001
-
-
0-09
0-05
0-03
001
-
-
1-26
1 -46
*•««»
0-21
0-2S
0-S2
0-11
0-26
0-OS
0-24
2-04
0-69
Ukrainian —
Bukovinian
Galician
Ruthenian .
Ukrainian..
Asiatic —
Chinese
Hindu
Japanese
Turkish
Syrian
Armenian
Indian
Negro
Various 5
Unspecified
1 Includes: Danish, Norwegian, Icelandic, Swedish.
8 Includes Half Breeds.
3 Included with Austrians.
* Included with Galicians.
° Includes: Algerian, Arabian, Argentinian, Brazilian, Chilian, Egyptian, Eskimo, Hawaiian, Haytian, Jamaican,
Korean, Malayan, Maltese, Maori, Mexican, Persian, Peruvian, Philippino, Portuguese and Spanish.
THE NUMERICAL STRENGTH OF STOCKS IN CANADA
The numerical strength of the various stocks of Canada in 1921 is shown in Table 8.
The first eleven, arranged in descending order of magnitude, are as follows: —
Origin
Rank
Origin
Rank
1
2
3
4
5
6
Dutch
7
8
Scotch
9
10
11
Hebrew
Each of the above numbered 100,000 or over in 1921. The number of English slightly
exceeded the French, and the Scotch outnumbered those of Irish descent by a small margin.
Of the non-British and non-French stocks, those of German origin were more than twice as
numerous as those of any other. The Hebrews came next with 126,000, closely followed by
the Dutoh, Austrians, Ukrainians and Russians in the order named.
When the foreign stocks are grouped geographically and linguistically some interesting
facts are brought to light. Tables 8 and 9 present this grouping for the European stocks.
The North Western European stocks exceeded those from South, Eastern and Central
Europe by about 20 p.c. in 1921. The former represent in the main the " old " immigration,
and the latter the " new." How long the northern and western peoples will continue to
constitute the bulk of the foreign stock in Canada, depends on the immigration of the
future. During the past two decades, the South, Eastern and Central Europeans have been
rapidly overtaking the North Western Europeans in Canada.
GEOGRAPHICAL AND LINGUISTIC GROUPINGS OF ORIGINS
45
TABLE 8— POPULATION OF CANADA BY ORIGINS, 1921.
Origin
Number
Origin
Number
Total
8,788,483
110,814
66 769
4,868 903
2,545,496
1,107,817
1,173,637
41,953
2, 452; 751
665
107,671
20.234
1,765
39,587
8,840
21,124
117,506
3,269
21,494
294,636
5,740
126.196
13,181
15,876
15,868
381
1,970
18,291
68,856
Polish
53,403
467
M
13,470
100,064
3,906
2,208
61 , 503
12,837
8,282
Turkish
313
106,721
1,616
24,456
16,861
63,788
21,249
1,673
TABLE 9.— NORTH WESTERN AND SOUTH, EASTERN AND CENTRAL EUROPEAN POPULATION
OF CANADA, BY ORIGINS OTHER THAN BRITISH AND FRENCH, 1921.
Origin
Numher
Origin
Number
20,234
21,124
117,506
294,736
15,876
68,856
61,503
12,837
21,494
5,740
13 181
Dutch
381
1,970
53,403
Polish
13,470
100,064
3,906
2,208
106,721
Total
612,572
107,671
1,765
8,840
Total
508,050
1 Includes Bukovinian, Galician, Ruthenian and Ukrainian
TABLE 10.-
-POPULATION OF CANADA, BY LINGUISTIC GROUPING OF ORIGINS,
(BRITISH AND FRENCH NOT INCLUDED).
1921
Origin
Number-
Origin
Number
Scandinavian —
21,124
15,876
68,856
61,503
13,470
467
Total
88,654
Slavic~
Total
167,359
107,671
1 765
Germanic —
117,506
20,234
294,636
Dutch :
Czech
8,840
381
1,970
53,403
100,064
3,906
106,721
Polish
Total
432,376
Latin and Greek —
5,740
66,679
Total
384,721
'Includes Bukovinian, Galician, Ruthenian and Ukrainian.
46
ORIGINS OF THE POPULATION OF CANADA
Further, when the stocks are grouped linguistically, the Germanic group ranks first, with
the Slavs a close second. The Scandinavians rank third, with less than half the numerical
strength of the Slavs, and the Latin and Greek group is the smallest of all.
The following table arranges the principal stocks in each group in order of numerical
strength : —
TABLE 11 -NUMERICAL RANK OF PRINCIPAL STOCKS, OTHER THAN BRITISH AND FRENCH,
BY SPECIFIED GROUPS, 1921.
Origin
North Western Europe —
German
Dutch
Norwegian
Swedish
Scandinavian —
Norwegian
Swedish
Danish
Icelandic
Latin and Greek —
Italian
Roumanian
Greek
Spanish
Rank
Origin
South, Eastern and Central Europ<
Austrian
Ukrainian
Russian
Italian
Polish
Germanic —
German
Dutch
Flemish
Slavic-1-
Austrian
Ukrainian
Russian
Polish
Rank
CHANGES IN THE PROPORTION OF DIFFERENT STOCKS IN CANADA
While the proportion of stocks other than British and French in Canada in 1921
remains small, a comparison of the data for 1901 and 1911 with those of 1921 is significant.
Both the British and French stocks show a smaller proportion in. 1921 than in 1901. For
the French the decrease was continuous. While it was only to the extent of approximately
3'p.c. in the twenty year period, it amounted to 2 p.c. in the decade 1901 to 1911, when
immigration was at its highest. A decline at this rate, if continued for half a century, will
produce material alteration.
The decrease in the percentage of British stock was arrested in the last decade by Eng-
lish immigration. The percentage of Irish and Scotch consistently declined over the twenty
year period.
On the other hand, the proportion of other European origins increased from 8-51 p.c.
to 14-16 p.c. in the two decades. That the increase was not more rapid between 1911 and
1921 was due mainly to the war. The previous decade saw the proportion of other Euro-
pean stocks increase by approximately 50 p.c, a repetition of which for a few decades would
have a profound effect on the structure of the Canadian population.
Since 1900, the Asiatics have increased almost twice as rapidly as the population as-
a whole. The Syrians, though small in numbers, constitute three times as large a percent-
age as at the beginning of the century and the Japanese exactly twice the proportion. The
Chinese have increased at a somewhat slower rate, though the fact that they have been
increasing some 50 p.c. faster than the population as a whole, in spite of the heavy head
tax, is an indication of the potential pressure of Oriental immigration. Practically the whole
of this increase is accounted for by immigration; natural increase has been slight, owing to-
the small proportion of Chinese women in the country.
In contrast with the Orientals, the Indian and Negro stocks have failed to keep pace with,
the growing population. Twenty years has seen the proportion of Indian stock cut in half,
though this is partly due to the fact that 34,481 half-breeds were counted as Indians in 1901.
In the same period the total population of Canada grew some 65 p.c. .Next to the Indians-
the proportion of Negroes has declined most rapidly. In 1921 it was only two-thirds that
of 1901,
A somewhat different approach is suggested by Table 12 (p. 48) , which shows the num-
bers of the principal stocks in Canada at the fast three census dates and the percentage-
increase for each stock in the decades 1901 to 1911 and 1911 to 1921. The last two columns:
present a striking comparison as to the actual rates of growth -of the various stocks.
CHANGES IN THE PROPORTION OF DIFFERENT STOCKS 47
The first point to note is the wide range of percentage increases. In the decade 1901-11
they fluctuated between the limits of minus 17 p.c. for the Indians (partly due to change in
census methods) to plus 1159 p.c. for a group of minor stocks specified in footnote three of
the table. Such extreme fluctuations emphasize the plastic nature of our population.
The second fact is the appearance of a group of stocks whose percentage increase is less
than that for the total population of Canada. There were five in the decade 1901-1911, which
when arranged in descending order of magnitude are as follows: —
Per cent.
British : .. 27-22
French 24-59
Greek 23-50
Negro — 3-21
Indian —17-45
Though the English section of the British grew 10 p.c. faster than the population as a
whole, the British group increased 7 p.c. less rapidly than the total population. The French
showed an increase of only 24-59 p.c, as against 34-17 p.c. for Canada as a whole.
The relative significance of various factors in bringing about these results cannot well be
weighed. The smallness of French immigration as compared with that of other stocks and
the high mortality rate, especially among infants, in French Canada probably account for the
striking difference between the Dominion rate and that for the French. The magnitude of
the difference is not so great in the following decade, but the unfavourable rate of growth in
the French population persisted.
That the rate for the Greeks was lower than that of the Dominion in 1901-1911 is offset
by an increase nearly three times as great as the general increase for the Dominion in the
next decade. Absolute decreases shown for the Negro and Indian stocks are turned into
increases between 1911 and 1921, but the percentage increases are only a fraction of that for
Canada as a whole, which confirms the tendency noted above, as to the decline of the pro-
portion of those stocks in Canada.
In the third place attention is drawn to the magnitude of the numerical and percentage
increases for the Asiatic and European stocks (other than British and French). As a group,
the other European stocks increased by four times as large a proportion as did the English
and French. The rate was such as to more than double the European stocks in the one
decade, and was much higher for specific origins. For example, the Belgians and Scandina-
vians trebled; the Hebrews and Italians increased more than fourfold, and the Poles and
Finns, respectively,' were numerically five and six times as strong in 1911 as in 1901. The
Asiatics increased three times as rapidly as the British.
These figures appear extremely large when compared with the increases of 27-22 p.c. for
the British, 24-59' p.c. for the French and 34-17 p.c. for the population as a whole. It must
not, of course, be inferred that such extreme differences are likely to be repeated or could
possibly obtain for any length of time. Were the doors thrown open to Orientals, the rate of
increase of these people in Canada would undoubtedly soar for some years, but such an event
may be dismissed as beyond the range of probability. For Europe, however, the case is dif-
ferent. Continental Europe has a more or less determinate surplus of population for emigra-
tion each year. With the gradually declining birthrate, that surplus will grow smaller.
But, as the numbers of the several stocks in Canada grow, larger and larger streams of'
immigrants would be required to keep up these abnormally large percentage increases.
Thus, such diversity in rates of growth among the various elements in our population as
was witnessed in the first ten years of the century will not likely be repeated, and even if
repeated in some subsequent decade, could not go on indefinitely.
The decline of the immigration of European stocks, however, will not be as rapid as
might be' expected. Hitherto Canada has been receiving only a portion of the excess popu-
lation of Europe. Much larger numbers have gone to the United States. With that country
48
ORIGINS OF THE POPULATION OF CANADA
on a strict quota system, the pressure of the surplus European population, which would have
found its way there in the past, will be transferred in large measure bo Canada. Just how
significant this will be is impossible to foresee, yet it will doubtless operate to keep the rates
of increase of the foreign stocks in Canada from dropping to anything like the extent that
otherwise would occur.
Indeed, there is good reason' for the belief that though* the diversity in rates of growth
may not be so large again, the natural tTend of unrestricted immigration would materially
shift the balance of the stocks in our papulation in a few years. The cumulative effect of
even a small differential rate is comparatively rapid, and even if the rate of growth of Euro-
pean stocks were reduced to a quarter of that for the decade 1901 to 1911, it would still be
sufficiently higher than the percentage increases for either the French or British to overtake
these stocks numerically in the long run. Further, there is no probability that any such
radical reduction in the growth of European stocks will take place in the near future.
This raises a fourth point. If the rates of increase for the first and second decades are
compared, in all except five cases a lower figure appears in 1911-1921. These five are the
Bulgarian' and Roumanian groups, the Greeks, the Swiss, the Negroes and the Indians. In
the first three cases, the rate of increase was positive, but more rapid in the latter decade.
In the two latter cases an actual numerical decline was changed to a moderate growth. The
increase in the first group is accounted for by extensive immigration in the first half of the
decade, as compared with the previous ten-year period. For example, only one Bulgarian
immigrant arrived in Canada in 1901, 40 in 1902, 5 in 1903, etc., but 4,616 came to Canada in
the fiscal year 1912-13. The Greeks show the greatest proportionate increase in rate; the
increase for the Swiss is slight. Yet while declining percentage increase was universal with
these minor exceptions, all but a very few stocks increased much more rapidly than either
the British or French.
TABLE 12.— NUMBER OF VARIOUS STOCKS IN CANADA 1901, 1911. 1921, AND PERCENTAGE
INCREASES FOR DECADES, 1901 TO 1911 AND 1911 TO 1921.
Stocks
Number
1911
P.c. increase
1901-1911 1911-1921
British
English
Irish
Scotch
Other
French
European
Belgian
Bulgarian and Roumanian.
Finnish
Greek
Hebrew
Italian
Polish
Scandinavian *
Swiss
Other European 2
Asiatic
Chinese
Hindu
Japanese
Turkish
Syrian
Armenian
Indian
Negro
Various
Unspecified
3.063,195
1,260,899
988,721
800, 154
13,421
1,649,371
456, 647
2,994
354
2,502
291
16,131
10,834
6,285
31,042
3,865
382,349
23,731
17,312
4,738
1,681
127, 9411
• 17,437
1,454
31,539
Total 5, 371, 315
3,896,985
1,823,150
1,050,384
997,880
25,571
2,054,890
923,727
9,593
5,875
15,497
3,594
75,681
45,411
33,365
107,535
6,625
620,551
43,017
27,774
2,342
9,021
3,880
105,492
16,877
18,310
147,345
4,868,903
2,545,496
1,107,817
1.173,637
41,953
2,452,751
1,244,151
20,234
15,235
21,494
5,740
126,196
66,769
53,403
167,359
12,837
754,884
65,731
39,587
1,016
15,868
313
8,282
665
110,814
18,291
6.5931
21,249
27-22
44-59
6-23
24-71
90-53
24-59
102-28
220-41
65-96
519-38
23-50
369-17
319-15
430-87
246-42
71-41
62-30
81-27
60-43
90-40
130-81
-17-45
- 3-21
1,159-28
367-18
7,206,643
8,788,483
3417
24-94
39-62
5-47
17-61
64-06
19-36
34-69
110-92
159-31
38-70
59-71
66-75
4703
60-05
55 -e3
93-77
21-65
52-80
42-53
-56-60
75-90
113-45
5 04
8-38
-6400
-85-56
21-95
1 Includes: Danish, Norwegian, Icelandic, Swedish.
s Includes: Austrian, German, Bukovinian, Dutch, Galician, Hungarian, Russian, Ruthenian, Bohemian, Moravian,
Serbo-Croatian, Lithuanian, Lettish, Ukrainian, Laplander.
8 Includes: Algerian, Arabian, Argentinian, Brazilian, Chilian, Egyptian, Eskimo, Hawaiian, Haytian, Jamaican,
Korean, Malayan, Maltese, Maori, Mexican, Persian, Peruvian, Philippino, Portuguese, and Spanish.
* Includes: 34,481 "half-breeds".
CHAPTER II
DISTRIBUTION OF VARIOUS STOCKS AND OF FOREIGN BORN
ACCORDING TO LENGTH OF RESIDENCE
THE PROPORTION OF DIFFERENT STOCKS CANADIAN BORN, UNITED STATES
BORN AND BORN IN COUNTRIES OTHER THAN THE UNITED STATES
Table 13 shows the numerical •distribution of the population by origins as between
Canadian born, United States born and immigrants born in countries other than the
United States. Tables 14 and 15 group the Europeans in Table 13 by rough geographical
and linguistic classes, and Tables 16, 17, 18 and 19 express the same data in percentages.
A summary appears in Table 20.
From the figures of Table -13 it may be deduced that in 1921 77.75 p.c. .of the popula-
tion of Canada were Canadian born, and 4.25 p.c. United States born. As respects the
remaining 18 p.c. or 1,581,712, 12.12 p.c. or over two-thirds, or 1,065,454, were British born,
leaving 5.88 p.c. of the total population, or 516,258 persons, as the foreign born other than
United States born. The origins of these . half million persons are analyzed as far as
possible in the following tables. The 1,054,982 persons of British origins born in countries
other than Canada and the United States correspond fairly well with the 1,065,454 persons
Empire born outside of Canada— -a proof that our British born persons (other than Cana-
dians) are practically all of British origins, and may consequently be considered as adding
not at all to the problems which confront us. Of course some few may have hpon
of other than British stocks, and conversely some few of those born in foreign countries
other than the United States may have been of British stocks. But the numbers of such
persons must be comparatively negligible.
Number Born in the United States. — In the first place it is evident from Table 13 that
a very considerable number of our people have been born outside Canada — almost two
million. Of those, 375,000 were of United States birth, or a little less than a fifth. The
British stocks account for 205,000 or 55 p,c. of the immigrants born in the United States
and the French for 50,000 or 13 p.c. Thus nearly 70 p.c. of those born' in the United States
and resident in Canada in 1921 were either of British or of French stock. Figures for the
other principal stocks, arranged in order of importance, are as follows :> —
Stock
Number
Per cent of
total U.S.
born
40,009
22,186
" 11,625
10,176
6,158
4,851
3,099
11
6
Dutch
3
1
That so large a percentage of those immigrants born across the line are of the dominant
Canadian stocks and that the bulk of the remainder are of either Germanic or Scandinavian
origin are facts fraught with great significance. The British, French, German and
Scandinavians accounted for nearly 95 p.c. of the total United States born residents of
Canada in 1921.
■The Southern, Eastern and Central European stocks are conspicuous for the extremely
small numbers appearing among the immigrants of United States birth in Canada. The
49
74422—1
50
DISTRIBUTION OF STOCKS BY LENGTH OF RESIDENCE
Russians lead numerically and the Hebrews come a close second, but their proportions of
the whole are comparatively insignificant. To a much greater extent is that true of the
other Southern, Eastern and Central Europeans.
TABLE 13— CANADIAN BORN, UNITED STATES BORN, AND ELSEWHERE BORN, BY ORIGINS, IN
CANADA, 1921.
Origins
(1)
Total
population
(2)
Canadian
born
13)
United
States
born
(4)
Born in
countries
other than
Canada
and U.S.
Total
British
English.
Irish
Scotch..
Others. .
French
Armenian
Austrian
Belgian
Bulgarian
Chinese
Czech
Danish
Dutch
Eskimo
Finnish
German
Greek
Hebrew
Hungarian...
Icelandic
Indian
Italian
Lettish
Lithuanian
Negro
Norwegian
Polish
Portuguese
Roumanian
Russian
Serbo-Croatian . .
Spanish
Swedish
Swiss
Syrian
Turkish
Ukrainian
Bukovinian.
Galician
Ruthenian..
Ukrainian...
Unspecified
Various
788,483
868, 903
545,496
107,817
173,637
41,953
452..751
665
107,671
20,234
1,765
39,587
8,840
21,124
117,506
3,269
21,494
294,636
5,740
126,196
13,181
15,876
110,814
66, 769
15,868
381
1,870
18,291
68,856
53,403
467
13,470
100,064
3,906
2,208
61,503
12,837
8,282
313
106,721
1,616
24,456
16,861
63,788
21,249
1,673
6,832,747
3,608,732
1,739,467
946,979
898, 670
23,616
2,379,636
179
56, 101
6,761
264
2,966
3,890
8,910
97,262
3,267
7,944
211,374
1,759
50,892
6,592
8,741
109,828
28,732
4,334
150
820
13,685
23,568
27,650
340
6,028
49,678
1,419
990
21,727
7,942
4,122
131
57, 792
849
12,768
9,484
34,691
18,281
252
374,024
205,189
108,008
51,642
41,948
3,591
50, 630
10
1,402
734
11
35
1,044
4,122
10,176
1,427
40,009
122
4,851
575
1,008
663
1,912
16
6
44
3,099
22,186
1,507
34
144
6,158
234
309
11,625
1,690
253
7
297
8
100
24
165
2,472
23
1,581,712
1,054,982
698,021
109,196
233,019
14,746
22,485
476
50,16
12,739
1,490
36,586
3,906
8,092
10,068
2
12,123
43,253
3.859
70,453
6,014
6,127
36,125
11,518
225
1,106
1,507
23, 102
24,246
93
7,298
44,228
2,253
909
28, 151
3,205
3,907
175
48, 632
759
11,588
7,353
28, 932
496
1,398
The numbers of the European stocks (other than British and French) born in the
United States and resident in Canada, are shown by geographical and linguistic groups in
Tables 14 and 15.
CANADIAN, UNITED STATES AND ELSEWHERE BORN
51
TABLE 14.-NUMBER CANADIAN BORN, UNITED STATES BORN AND ELSEWHERE BORN OF
PRINCIPAL EUROPEAN ORIGINS IN CANADA, BY GEOGRAPHICAL GROUPS (FRENCH AND
BRITISH EXCEPTED), 1921.
Origins
Canadian
born
United
States
bora
Born
elsewhere
than in
Canada
or U.S.
Total
North Western European —
No.
6,761
8,910
97,262
211,374
. 8,741
23,568
21,727
7,942
No.
734
4,122
10,176
40,009
1,008
22, 186
11,625
1,690
No.
12,739
8,092
10,068
43,253
6,127
23,102
28,151
3,205
No.
20,234
21,124
117,606
294,636
15,876
68,856
61,503
12,837
Dutch
Total
386,285
91,550
134,737
612,572
63-06
14-95
21,99
100-00
South, Eastern and Central European —
56,109
264
3,890
7,944
1,759
6,592
28, 732
150
820
27,650
340
6,028
49,678
1,419
990
57, 792
1,402
11
1,044
• 1,427
122
575
1,912
6
44
1,507
34
144
6,158
234
309
297
50,160
1,490
3,906
12,123
3,869
6,014
36,125
225
1,106
24,246
93
7,298
44,228
2,253
909
48,632
107,671
1,765
8,840
21,494
5,740
13,181
66, 769
381
1,970
53,403
467
13,470
100,064
3,906
2,208
106,721
Polish
Total ,
250, 157
15,226
242,667
508,050
49-24
30
47-76
100-0
includes Bukovinian, Galician, Ruthenian and Ukrainian.
Thus, while the total of North Western European stocks is 612,572 as compared with
508,050 of South, Eastern and Central European stocks, the excess of the former is due to
the larger number of Canadian and United States born among the races of the " older
immigration." The number of these "preferred" stocks born outside of North America
was only 134,737 as compared with 242,667 born outside of North America among the' stocks
of the " newer immigration," or but little more than half as many.
74422— 4J
52
DISTRIBUTION OF STOCKS BY LENGTH OF RESIDENCE
TABLE 15 -NUMBER CANADIAN BOEN, UNITED STATES BORN, AND ELSEWHERE BORN OF
PRINCIPAL EUROPEAN ORIGINS IN CANADA, BY LINGUISTIC GROUPS (FRENCH AND
BRITISH EXCEPTED), 1921.
Origins
Canadian
born
United
States
born
Elsewhere
born
(other than
U.S.A.)
Total
Scandinavian—
No.
8,910
8,741
23,568
21,727
No.
4,122
1,008
22,186
11,625
No.
8,092
6,127
23,102
28, 151
No.
21,124
15,876
68,856
61,503
62,946
38,941
65,472
167,359
37-61
23-27
39-12
100-0
Germanic —
97,262
6,761
211,374
10,176
734
40,009
10,068
12,739
43,253
117,506
20,234
294,636
315,397
50,919
66,060
432,376
72-95
11-78
15-28
100-0
Latin and Greek —
1,759
28,732
6,028
990
340
122
1,912
144
309
34
3,859
36,125
7,298
909
93
5,740
66, 769
13,470
2,208
467
37,849
2,521
48,284
88,654
42-69
2-84
54-46.
100-0
Slavic —
56,109
264
3,890
150
820
27,650
49,678
1,419
57, 792
1,402
11
1,044
6
44
1,507
6,158
234
297
50,160
1,490
3,906
225
1,106
24,246
44,228
2,253
48,632
107,671
1,765
8,840
381
1,970
53,403
100,064
3,906
106,721
197,772
10,703
176,246
384,721
51-41
2-78
45-81
100-0
1 Includes Bukovinian, Galician, Ruthenian and Ukrainian.
Proportions oj Stocks Born in Canada, United Stales and Countries other than the
United States.— Tables 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 show the percentages of the respective stocks
born in Canada, the United States and countries other than the United States, by various
groupings. For purposes of distinguishing those bom on the American continent from all
others, as in the previous tables, the British born, other than Canadian, are included with
the other immigrant born in the third column in each table.
The first significant fact is the wide range of proportions shown as of Canadian birth.
Neglecting the Eskimos and the Indians, the French show the highest percentage with
97.02 p.c. Canadian born, and the Chinese the lowest with only 7.49 p.c- Table 17 arranges
in rank the percentages Canadian and elsewhere born (other than in the United States).
Those stocks of whom large percentages have come to Canada in earlier years appear at
the top of the first column showing the rank of the stocks by percentages of Canadian birth.
Those of more recent immigration appear in the 'lower portion of that column. The reverse
holds 'true of the .percentages elsewhere born in the second column.
On examination, these tables show that three-fourths of the British are Canadian born;
the Irish show the high proportion of 85.48 p.c, the Scotch and English follow with
76.57 p.c. and 68.34 p.c, respectively. Of the British' immigration, then, the proportion of
English who have come in recent years is the highest. While those of British stock form
over half the total immigration from the United States, it must be kept in mind that the
United States born British stock in Canada is only a little over 4 p,c of all British stock
in Canada.
PROPORTIONS CANADIAN, UNITED STATES AND ELSEWHERE BORN 53
Attention has been called to the very high percentage of French born in Canada. Less
than 3 p.c. of those of French origin were born outside Canada. Of those, two-thirds came
from United States and one-third from Europe.
The Asiatics, as will be seen in Table 20, show very small percentages Canadian born
with the exception of the Syrians, of whom about 50 p.c. were native Canadians.
The Europeans are grouped geographically and linguistically in Tables 18 and 19. Con-
siderable variation is shown in the geographical groups. Among the Northern Europeans,
the Dutch show the largest percentage Canadian bom and the smallest foreign born. The
Germans are the second, then the Swiss and Icelanders in the order named. The Belgians
have the lowest, percentage born in Canada and the highest proportion foreign born
outside of the United States. Even greater variation characterizes the South, Eastern
and Central Europeans. In this group the Portuguese have the smallest proportion foreign
born. Their numbers, however, are very small and consequently not important from the
standpoint of the composition of the Canadian population. The Bulgarians, even fewer in
numbers, are at the foot of the list in respect to percentage of Canadian birth. The others
range around 45 p.c. Canadian born as a median value.
TABLE 16.— PER CENT CANADIAN BORN, UNITED STATES BORN, AND ELSEWHERE BORN,
BY ORIGINS, 1921.
Origins
P.c.
Canadian
born
P.c.
United
States
born
Elsewhere
born
(other than
U.S.)
Total
British
English
Irish
Scotch
Others
French
Armenian
Austrian
Belgian
Bulgarian
Chinese
Czech
Danish
Dutch
Eskimo
Finnish
Gei man
Greek
Hebrew
Hungarian
Icelandic
Indian
Italian
Japanese
Lettish
Lithuanian
Negro
Norwegian
Polish
Portuguese
Roumanian
Russian
Serbo-Croatian.
Spanish
Swedish
Swiss
Syrian
Turkish
Ukrainian
Bukovinian
Galician
Ruthenian.,
Ukrainian..
Unspecified
Various
p.c
4
p.c.
18-00
21-67
27-42
54
DISTRIBUTION OF STOCKS BY LENGTH OF RESIDENCE
TABLE 17.— PERICENTIAND RANK OF U) CANADIAN BORN AND (2) ELSEWHERE BORN (OTHER THAN
IN U.S.) BY ORIGINS, 1921.
Origins
P.O.
Canadian
born
Rank
U)
Origins
P.O.
elsewhere
born (other
than U.S.)
Rank
(2)
99-94
9911
97-02
86-03
85-48
82-77
76-57
74-82
72-81
71-74
68-34
61-87
56-25
55-06
54-38
52-54
52-21
52-11
51-78
50 01
49-77
49-65
44-84
44-75
44-00
43 03
42-18
41-85
41-62
40-33
39-37
36-96
36-33
35-33
34-23
33-41
30-64
27-31
26-92
14-96
7-49
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
92-42
84^42
72-59
71-58
67-23
62-96
69-06
57-68
56-40
56- 14
55-91
55-83
54-18
5411
47-38
4717
46-97
46-58
45-77
45-63
45-40
45-36
44-20
44-19
43-61
4117
38-69
38-31
33-55
27-42
24-97
19-91
19-85
14-68
11-63
9-86
8-57
8-24
0-92
0-29
0-06
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Turkish
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Polish
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
English
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
Dutch
37
38
39
40
41
THE OLD AND THE NEW IMMIGRATION
The North Western Europeans are often regarded as constituting the so-called " old "
immigration and the South, Eastern and Central European group, the " new ". For the
groups, this distinction is valid. The percentage of the former group born in Canada is seen
to be 63.06 as against 49.24 for the latter (Table 18). But an examination of the percent-
ages for the separate stocks shows that some of the North Western- European stocks appar-
ently should be classed as among the new arrivals and certain of the South, Eastern and
Central group as of the older immigration. The extent of this overlapping is presented
graphically in Chart 17. While the Dutch, Germans, Swiss and Icelanders are well above
the mid-value of the Eastern group, it is also true that the Ukrainians, Austrians, Poles,
Hungarians and' Russians show higher percentages Canadian bom than the lower four North
Western continental stocks. Further, the proportions Canadian born for three of the,
Scandinavian stocks, viz., the Danish, Norwegian and Swedish, are considerably below that
for the South, Eastern and Central Europeans as a class.
Additional light is thrown on the situation by Table 19 (p. 57), giving the source of our
immigration by linguistic groups. It is seen that while only 37.61 p.c. of the Scandinavians
are Canadian born, an additional 23.27 p.c. were born in the United States and are thus
of the second generation on this continent. Almost as many Norwegian residents of Canada
were born in the United States as in Norway; almost half as many Danes as were born in
Denmark and more than a third as many Swedes as were born in Sweden. Only 39.12 p.c.
of this group were born in foreign countries other than the United States. Thus, in the
case of none of the Scandinavian stocks is the percentage born outside this continent as
great as that for the Slavs as a group. Now while in some respects there is a radical
difference between Scandinavians born in Canada, the United States and the Mother Lands,
PERCENTAGE CANADIAN BORN OF SPECIFIED ORIGINS
55
Chart XVII
SHOWING PERCENTAGE CANADIAN BORN of SPECIFIED
ORIGINS other th*n BRITISH and FRENCH in 19 21
N. Western European
%
S.,Eajtern andCcnt. European
■
DUTCH
80
GERMAN
70
PORTUGUESE
SWISS
60
ICELANDIC
55
50
UKRAINIAN-HUNGARIAN
AUSTRIAN AND POLISH
DANISH
40
Czech— Roumanian and Spanish
Italian— Lithuanian
SWEDISH
35
Lettish
Finnish— Serbo-Croatian
Norwegian
Be loan
30
GREEK
i
15
BULGARIAN
from the standpoint of linguistic, economic and educational assimilation the United States
born and Canadian born are very similar. Consequently there are real grounds for regarding
the Scandinavians as among the earlier immigrants, though a smaller percentage were
Canadian born than was the case for the Slavs or Latins and Greeks. Over 60 p.c. of the
Scandinavians were born on this continent, as opposed to 54 p.c. of the Slavs and 45 p.c.
of the Latins and Greeks.
A considerable proportion of United States born also characterizes the Dutch and
Germans in this country. While 83 p.c. of the Dutch and 72 p.c. of the Germans were
born in Canada, over 91 p.c. of the former and 85 p.c. of the latter were born on the
American continent and brought up under the more or less similar cultures of the two
English-speaking North American nations.
Portuguese should also be classed among the older immigrants because of the proportion
born in Canada; on similar grounds to those mentioned above, the Spanish with a total of
60 p.c. North American born, are not to be thought of as among the new arrivals. Canadian
residents of these origins, however, are comparatively few.
The Belgians, on the other hand, with 33.41 p.c. Canadian born and 3.63 p.c. born in
the United States, though from Northern Europe, are among the new comers to this
continent. The Latins and Greeks show less than 46 p.c. North American born, a percentage
56
DISTRIBUTION OF STOCKS BY. LENGTH OF RESIDENCE
much lower than the 54 p.c. for the Slavic group. Indeed, as a group, the Latins and
Greeks, the Portuguese and Spanish excepted, show the largest percentage born across the
seas, the Slavs ranking second. The proportions of these latter groups born in the
United States are very small. There is one exception, however, among the Slavs,
viz., the Czechs, of whom 44 p.c. were Canadian born and 11.81 p.c. were born in the
United States, making a total of nearly 56 p.c. born on this continent. Almost twice as
large a proportion of the Czechs as of any other Slavic people have come from the United
States. The Russians and Serbo-Croatians are the only Slavic peoples beside the Czechs
who show anything but an insignificant proportion of United States birth.
There are grounds, therefore, for a general distinction between the groups of origins
on the basis of the time of coming to this continent, though no clear demarcation
on the basis of Canadian birth alone seems justifiable. The Scandinavian and Germanic
stocks and those from the north and west of Europe generally, constitute the older settlers,
while the Latin, Greek and Slavic peoples and those from the south, centre and east of
Europe, are on the whole more recent arrivals. It must be kept in mind, however, that
even on this broader basis there are exceptions. The Belgians are decidedly of the new
immigration, the few Spanish and Portuguese are of the old, and certain Slavic stocks, such
as the Czechs, Russians, Poles and Austrians, show almost as small a percentage born
outside Canada and the United States as some of those classed among the older immigrants.
The Asiatic group is unique with 18-04 p.c. Canadian born, -05 p.c. United States born
and 81-48 p.c. born in the East. It shows much the smallest proportion Canadian and
United States born of any group and by far the largest percentage born in foreign lands.
TAB^Jfc£E-IiC5$!T CANADIAN BORN, UNITED STATES BORN, AND ELSEWHERE BORN, OF
S5K?P-A£,Ery,?cPPEAN ST0CKS IN CANADA (FRENCH AND BRITISH EXCEPTED), BY GEOGRA- ■
IMiICAJj GROUPS, 1921.
Groups of Origins
P.c.
Canadian
born
P.c.
United
States
born
P.c.
elsewhere
born
(other than
in U.S.)
North Western European-
33-41
42-18
82-77
71-74
55-06
34-23
35-33
61-87
3-63
19-51
8-66
13-58
6-35
32-22
18-90
13-16
62-96
38-31
8-57
14-68
38-59
33-55
45-77
24-97
German
Total
63-06
14-95
21-99
South, Eastern and Central European —
52-11
14-96
44-00
36-96
30-64
50-01
43-03
39-37
41-62
51-78
72-81
44-75
49-65
36-33
44-84
54-15
1-30
0-62
11-81
6-64
2-13
4-36
2-86
1-57
2-23
2-82
7-28
1-07
6-15
5-99
13-99
0-28
46-58.
84-42
44-19
56-40
67-23
45-63
5411
59-06
56-14
45-40
19-91
0418.
44-20
57-68
Polish
45-57
Total
49-24
3-00
47-76.
PERCENTAGE CANADIAN, UNITED STATES AND ELSEWHERE BORN 57
TABLE 19— PER CENT CANADIAN BORN, UNITED STATES BORN, AND ELSEWHERE BORN, OF PRIN-
CIPAL EUROPEAN STOCKS IN CANADA, BY LINGUISTIC GROUPS (FRENCH AND BRITISH
EXCEPTED), 1921.
Groups of Origins
P.c.
Canadian
born
P.c.
United
States
born
P.c.
elsewhere
born
(other than
in U.S.)
Scandinavian —
42-18
55-06
34-23
35-33
19-51
6-35
32-22
18-90
45-77
Total
37-61
23-27
Germanic —
Dutch
62-77
33-41
71-74
8-66
3-63
13-58
Total
72-95
11-78
Latin and Greek —
30-64
43-03
72-81
44-75
44-84
2-13
2-86
7-28
1-07
13-99
Total
42-69
2-84
Slavic —
52-12
14-96
44-00
39-37
41-63
51-78
49-65
36-33
54-15
1-30
0-62
11-81
1-57
2-23
2-82
615
5-99
0-28
56-14
Polish
Total
51-41
2-78
45-81
TABLE 20— SUMMARY TABLE OF PER CENT CANADIAN BORN, UNITED STATES BORN AND ELSE-
■ WHERE BORN, OF CERTAIN STOCKS, IN CANADA, BY SPECIFIED GROUPS, 1921.
Groups of Origins
P.c.
Canadian
born
P.c.
United
States
born
P.c.
elsewhere
born
(other than
in U.S.)
Total
77-75
56-71
63-06
49-24
37-61
72-95
42-69
51-41
18-04
4-25
9-47
14-95
3-00
23-27
11-78
2-84
2-78
0-05
45-81
81-48
The data in Table 20 are represented diagramaticaMy in Chart 18.
68
DISTRIBUTION OF STOCKS BY LENGTH OF RESIDENCE
Chart XVIII
PERCENTAGES or SPECIFIED ORIGIN GROUPS. CANADIAN
BORN, UNITED STATES BORN and ELSEWHERE BORN,
1921. %0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100%
Total Population or Dominion
TotalContinental European
N .Western European
S,,Eastern and Cent. European
Scandinavian
Germanic
Latin and Greek
Slavic
As
IATIC
Legend
CANADIAN BORN I
[ UNITED STATE! BORN I
ELSEWHERE BORN I
THE CHANGING PROPORTIONS OF CANADIAN BORN AND ELSEWHERE BORN
Hitherto attention has been focussed on the birthplace of the various stocks in Canada
in 1921. We now turn to the changing percentage of the population born outside of Canada,
with a view to studying more specifically the recent inflow of immigrant races. Table 21
shows the nativity of the population in the three census years 1901, 1911 and 1921. The
first point to note is the. decreasing proportion of the population born in Canada. Those
of Canadian nativity constituted 86-98 p.c. of the population in 1901 and only 77-98 p.c.
in 1911 — a decline of 9 p.c. in the proportion in a decade. Owing to arrested immigration
during the war the decrease in the second decade was almost negligible.
In the second place, compensating increases occurred in the percentage of the total
population born in foreign countries and the British Isles. The proportion of our popula-
tion born in Europe more than doubled between 1901 and 1911, and then remained station-
ary for ten years. The proportion born in North Western Europe increased about 76 p.c,
while the percentage born in South, Eastern and Central Europe almost trebled in the first
decade of the century. In both cases, however, decreases occur in the second decade. The
falling off in the North Western group is more marked than for the South, Eastern and
Central European countries. There has been a steadier and more gradual growth of the
proportion of United States birth in Canada. The same holds true of the Asiatics. The
war is undoubtedly the chief explanation of these differences.
In passing, it is worth noting that throughout the period 1901-1921 over half of those
born outside of Canada came from the British Isles. In 1901, about the same proportion were
born in the United States as in Europe. But by 1921, the United States born had fallen
behind the European born by approximately 20 p.c. Further, since the beginning of the
century, the proportion born in North Western Europe has not been as great as the percent-
age born in the South, East and Centre. The disparity between the two groups has becomp
progressively more marked.
CHANGING PROPORTIONS OF CANADIAN AND ELSEWHERE BORN 59
TABLE No. 21.— PROPORTION OF POPULATION CANADIAN AND ELSEWHERE BORN, BY COUNTRY
OF BIRTH, 1901, 1911, 1921.
Country of Birth
P.c. of total population born in speci-
fied country
1901.
1911.
1921.
p.c.
p.c.
p.c.
86-98
77-98
77-75
14-02
22-02
22-25
7-54
11-16
11-66
0-29
0-41
0-45
2-34
5-62
5-23
0-53
0-94
0-65
0-04
011
015
002
0-28
0-01
-
0-02
005
0-04
0-07
008
-
0-15
0-14
0-15
0-24
0-22
-
0-44
0-41
0-51
0-55
0-29
-
0-04
0-04
001
0-05
0-07
I1)
• 0-15
0-09
0-11
0-10
0-08
0-13
0-48
0-40
-
-
0-02
l!)
0-29
0-26
V")
-
0-33
i4)
-
0-26
0-58
1-25
115
0-19
0-39
0-32
-
-
004
-
-
013
0-03
0-07
0-04
0-44
0-57
0-61
0-32
0-37
0-42
0-09
0-12
0-13
0-02
0-04
0-04
0-01
0-03
0-03
2-38
4-21
4-25
1-05
1-81
1-46
1-20
3-74
3-54
Canada
Other Countries {including British)..
British hies
British Possessions
Europe
Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Czechoslovakia .
Denmark
Finland
France
Galicia
Germany
Greece
Holland
Hungary
Iceland
Italy
Jugo-Slavia
Norway
Poland
Roumania
Russia
Sweden
Switzerland
Ukraine
Others
Asia
China...,
Japan....
Syria
Turkey..
Others...
United States
North Western Europe
South, Eastern and Central Europe .
t1) Included with Austria.
(2) Included with Sweden.
(9) Included with Russia.
(A) Included with Bulgaria.
Tables 22 and 23 ori .p. 61 show the numbers of European foreign born in Canada in
1901, 1911 and 1921, as far as possible, by country of birth and geographical and linguistic
classifications. It has been impossible to separate, for example, the Austrians from the
Hungarians for 1901 — and so with all cases where the numbers and percentages are omitted.
There are several significant points brought out in this table. First, however, a word
is required as to the meaning of percentage increases and decreases. Take for example the
Belgians. In 1901-1911 the number of European born Belgians in Canada increased 240-78
p.c; that is, at an average rate of 25 p.c. per year over the 1901 total. The influx of Bel-
gians was therefore enough to offset any emigration that occurred in the period, to neutralize
the death rate of Belgian immigrants to Canada, and to show by the end of the decade two
and a hall times the number of Belgian born immigrants resident in the Dominion in 1901.
In the second ten years of the century the increase was only 66*47 p.c. During those years
immigration was smaller, emigration was more marked and the mortality rate among the
Belgian born was probably higher, owing to the higher average age of Belgian residents in
Canada. The actual percentages shown are thus the result of three or more less independent
factors which vary in importance from time to time and between one stock and another.
There is a fourth consideration, however, which is necessary to explain a given percent-
age increase. A very large proportionate increase may be due not to any great volume of
immigration so much as to its recency. Take for example the Greeks. In 1901 there were
213 Canadian residents born in Greece; in 1911, 2,640 — an increase of 2,327 in numbers but
of 1,139-44 p.c. Between 1911 and 1921 the number of native Greeks in Canada increased
60 DISTRIBUTION OF STOCKS BY LENGTH OF RESIDENCE
by 1,129, but this amounted only to 42-77 p.c. of the natives of Greece resident in Canada
in 1911. When people from a given country commence coming to Canada on a considerable
scale the percentage increases of the foreign born are usually high merely because of the
small number of those who had previously come, which number is used as a base for com-
puting the proportionate increase.
Though not so determining a factor, the death rate is usually lower for the " newer "
immigration than for the " old." On the whole, the age distribution of the former is more
favourable to low 'mortality. Few of the young men and women immigrating to Canada
in the prime of life have had time to grow old in the case of the stocks who have come to
Canada in recent years in large numbers. While differences due to this cause may.be of
comparatively minor importance in comparison with the other factors mentioned above,
that such differences do exist must be pointed out if attention is to be drawn to all aspects
of the problem. Thus considerable care should be taken in using and interpreting the data
given in these tables. To analyze them in detail is beyond the scope of this report. A few
comments may be offered.
First, as is brought out clearly in Table 24 (p. 62), there was an actual decline in ■
the number of foreign born from the north of Europe and notably from Germanic countries
during the past decade. Neither the comparative cessation of immigration during the war
nor the rather high death rate among the German born because of their longer residence in
this country, are adequate to account for this phenomenon. With the Germans, one deter-
mining factor is undoubtedly emigration. According to the census there were 14,311 fewer
native born Germans in Canada in 1921 than in 1911, in spite of the fact that just over
20,000 new immigrants of German nationality arrived during the decade. High emigration
just before and early in the war probably accounts for a very considerable percentage of the
decrease. To emigration and death there must be added, in explaining so large a discrepancy,
the fact that there is certain evidence to substantiate the statement that in 1921 wrong birth
places were reported in many cases. After the war many of the German born claimed to
be of Dutch or Swiss birth. How far this was the case cannot be stated without further
research, but it was undoubtedly a contributory factor in explaining the phenomenal decline
in the numbers of foreign born Germans recorded in the census.
In the last decade there were among the Northern Europeans two other cases of actual
decline in numbers born in the Mother Country and domiciled in Canada, viz., the Ice-
landers and the Swedes. It is difficult to determine without further investigation the relative
importance of the various forces responsible for those decreases. However, the combined
effect of decreases in the three cases mentioned, viz., the Germane, Icelanders and Swedes,,
was to make a slight reduction in the numbers of North Western European birth resident
in Camaxia in 1921 as against the numbers here in 1911. In this decade a net decline of
1.39 p.c. appears in the figures for North Western' Europe, as contrasted with an increase'
of 131.31 p.c. in the previous ten years.
The figures for the South, Central and Eastern sections of Europe show an actual
increase, though a relative decline, as against the previous decade. The high rate of growth
of the Czechoslovaks is worthy of note, also the absolute decrease of 14.77 ,p.c. and.
29.22 p.c. for the Austrians and Hungarians, respectively. The Austrians and Hungarians,
like the Germans, were enemy peoples during the war, and what was said of the Germans
probably applies to them with similar force. Immigration from Greece commenced very
energetically in the decade 1901-1911, and while the percentage increase dropped greatly
in the second decade, it was still high as compared with the average rate of increase of
the other stocks in the South, Central and Eastern groups.
Turning to the. linguistic groups, among the Scandinavians the increase in the numbers
born in Norway and Sweden was very marked in the first ten years of the century, and
the Danes also came in relatively large numbers. On the other hand, the increase in the
percentage of Icelanders born overseas in the first decade of the century was not only the-
lowest among the Scandinavians but was less than that of any stock from any other part
of the world. For that decade it was less than half as great as the increase of German
born, which was the next lowest. Between 1911 and .1921, as has been pointed out, there-;
was an actual decrease in the number born in Iceland who were resident in Canada.
GROWTH OF EUROPEAN BORN SINCE 1901
61
The outstanding feature of the Latin and Greek group is the rapid growth of the
percentage of foreign born in the first ten years of the century. In the case of the Italians,
this growth was sharply checked in the second ten years owing principally no doubt to the
war; a considerable number of Italian immigrants who arrived in Canada in the few years
preceding the war returned to Italy in 1915 to serve in the war, but the Greeks shewed
a high percentage increase even in the last decade.
TABLE 22.-NUMBER OF CONTINENTAL EUROPEAN BORN IN CANADA IN 1901, 1911 AND 1921, AND
PER CENT INCREASE 1901-1911 AND 1911-1921, BY GEOGRAPHICAL GROUPING OF COUNTRIES OF
BIRTH.
Country of Birth
No.
1901
No.
1911
No.
1921
P.c.
increase
1901-1911
P.c.
increase
1911-1921
2,280
2,075
7.944
27,300
385
6,057
<!)
10,256
7,975
4,937
17,619
39,577
3,808
7,109
20,968
28,226
13,276
7,192
19,249
25,266
5,828
6,776
23,127
27,700
34-17
249-78
137-93
121-79
44-97
889-09
17-37
379 -66\
21-95
North Western Europe —
66-47
45-68
9-25
-36-16
Holland
53-05
-4-68
10-30
• -1-86
Total
56,297
130,219
128,414
131-31
-1-39
Central, South Eastern Europe —
28,407
1,066
213
(>)
6,854
(J)
(«)
31,231
67,502
19,937
1,689
10,987
31,373
2,640
10,586
34,739
89,984
57,535
1,005
4,322
12,156
36,025
3,769
7,493
35,431
29,279
22,779
101,055
1,139-44
406-84
-14-77
-
155-89
10-64
14-83
■i, 42-77
-29-22
Italy
2-28
Poland
-
-
-
Total
Is) 67,771
(s)225,388
0310,949
232-57
15-41
-
(«)269,437
-
-
-
f,1) Included with Austria.
(') Included with Sweden.
(3) Included with Russia.
(4) Included with Bulgaria.
(») Includes Austria, Bulgaria, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Russia.
(8) Includes Austria, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Galicia, Greece, Hungary.
Negative sign denotes a decrease.
TABLE 23.— NUMBER OF CONTINENTAL EUROPEAN BORN IN CANADA IN 1901, 1911 AND 1921,
AND PER CENT INCREASE 1901-1911 AND 1911-1921, BY LINGUISTIC GROUPING OF COUNTRIES
OF BIRTH.
Country of birth
No.
1901
No.
1911
No.
1921
P.c.
increase
1901-11
P.c.
increase
1911-21
2,075
6,057
i
10,256
4,937
7,109
20, 968
28,226
7,192
6,776
23,127
27, 700
34-17
137-93
17-37
379-66/
21-95
Scandinavian —
45-68
- 4-68
10-30
- 1-86
Total
18,388
61,240
64,795
233-04
5-81
Germanic —
2,280
27,300
385
7,975
39,577
3,808
13,276
25,266
5,828
249-78
44-97
889-09
66-47
-36-16
53-05
Total
29,965
51,360
44,370
71-40
-13-61
Latin and Greek —
7,944
213
6,854
17,619
2,640
34,739
19,249
3,769
35,531
121-79
1,139-44
406-84
9-25
42-77
2-28
Total
15,011
54,998
58,549
266-38
6-46
1 Included with Sweden.
62
DISTRIBUTION OF STOCKS BY LENGTH OF RESIDENCE
Owing to changes in national boundaries, referred to above, and the consequent
difficulties of getting separate statistics on countries of birth corresponding to present
political divisions, only a very small proportion of the Slavs appearing in earlier census
enumerations could be allocated to their present national groups. It was thus considered
impracticable to attempt a Slavic classification.
Finally, turning to Table 24, giving a summary by specified groups of countries of birth,
several general points of comparison are worthy of emphasis.
First, between 1901 and 1911 the percentage increase of those born in South, Eastern
and Central Europe was twice as great as that for the group of nations of the north and
western .parts of the continent. ■ The percentage increases for both the Slavic and • Latin
and Greek groups were marked and made a very high total increase for the South, Eastern
and Central European bom. While the rate of increase of the foreign born Scandinavians
in that decade was almost twice as great as that Tor North Western Europeans as a whole,
the addition to the foreign born 'Germanic people in Canada was only a little more than
half the .proportion for the North Western Europeans. The United States born increased
about as rapidly as the North Western Europeans in the first ten years of the century.
In the second decade the rates of growth show heavy declines. The United States born
registered, an advance of -23-16 p.c.; the South, Central, and Eastern European showed
a 15-41 p.c. increase, and the Latins and Greeks and Scandinavians came next in ord'er
with increases of 6-46 and 5-81 p.c, respectively. Mention has been made of the actual
decline in the numbers of the North Western European and Germanic groups in this period.
In conclusion, a striking comparison is presented by referring these percentage changes
in foreign born to the rate of population growth in the country as a whole. Between 1901
and 1911 the number of foreign born Latins and Greeks resident in Canada increased over
8 times, as rapidly as the total population; the foreign born South, Eastern and Central
Europeans and the foreign born Scandinavians 7 times as rapidly, the North Western
European and United States born at nearly four times the rate, while those born in Germanic
and Asiatic countries showed over twice the percentage increase. In the decade 1911-1921
the situation was entirely changed. Only the increase in the United States and Asiatic
born was as great as the increase in the population as a whole. In many cases the number
foreign born actually declined.
^ftimTTrnW^.S?,1;15 »!H?IWG JEECENTAGE INCREASE OF THE IMMIGRANT
ANIMM™21 CANADA. BY SPECIFIED NATIVITY GROUPS, FOR THE DECADES 1901-1911
Country of birth
Total population
British Isles
British Possessions
Europe
Asia
United States
North Western Europe
South, Eastern and Central Europe
Scandinavian Countries
Germanic Countries
Latin and Greek Countries
P.c. increase by decades.
1901-1911 1911-1921
p.c.
3417
98-65
83-99
222-54
73-65
137-44
131-31
232-57
233-04
71-40
266-38
21-95
27-47
35-95
13-43
30-99
23-16
-1-39
15-41
5-81
-13-61
6-46
PRINCIPAL COUNTRIES OP BIRTH OF RECENT IMMIGRANTS FROM
CONTINENTAL EUROPE
Table 25 shows those countries which the largest number of European born residents of
Canada in 1921 reported as their respective countries of birth. The Russians were the
most numerous of those reporting at the census as having come to Canada before 1901.
Indeed, for every period except the years 1919 and 1920, Russia heads the list. This fact
seems to indicate that during the last generation Russia has sent a larger number of
permanent settlers to Canada than any other European continental country. Austria ds
well up among the first seven countries until the period of the war, and by 1921 reappears
COUNTRIES OF BIRTH OF RECENT IMMIGRANTS
63
in the list. The same applies to Galicia, with the difference that by 1921 the Galicians
had not yet resumed their exodus to this country in great numbers. In the decade 1900-1910,
Poland appeared for the first time among the first seven countries, and except for the war
years has continuously maintained a' place of high importance as a source of Canadian
immigration. These four are predominantly Slavic countries (Galicia is now included in
Poland).
It is worthy of note that while Italy does not appear in the list before 1900, in the
decade 1900-1910 it stood fifth and ranked between first and third from that time to the
taking of the last Census. This fact shows that immigration from Southern Europe as well
as from Eastern and Central Europe has been coming to the fore. Of the Scandinavian
peoples, the Swedes appeared among the first seven until 1921, and the Norwegians from
1900 until just after the war. While Iceland was among the seven countries which sent
the largest number of immigrants to Canada before 1900, it has never since reappeared
among that group. The same applies to Germany. France also ranked among the first
seven prior to 1900, but since then has appeared in the list only in 1919 and 1920, when
the volume of immigration was practically negligible owing to the war. Further, of the
French who came in 1919 65 p.c. were women, which suggests that among their number
were included many who had married Canadian soldiers or were about to do so. That
France should temporaril}' occupy a high place under such unusual circumstances is not
indicative of an increasing volume of French immigration as compared with pre-war years.
Indeed, as in the case of Germany and Iceland, the importance of immigration from France
has continuously declined1 since the beginning of the century.
Careful study of this table will show the gradual shifting of the weight of immigration
from the North West of Europe and the Scandinavian and Germanic groups to the South,
Eastern and Central nations and the Slavic and Latin and Greek peoples.
TABLE 25.— PRINCIPAL COUNTRIES OF BIRTH OF CONTINENTAL EUROPEAN IMMIGRANTS TO
CANADA IN SPECIFIED PERIODS.
Rank
Country
Rank
Country
Rank i Country
Rank
Country
Before 1900
1900-1910
1911-1914
1915-1918
1
Russia.
1
Russia.
1
Russia.
1
Russia.
2
Germany
2
Austria
2
Austria
2
Norway
3
Austria
3
Galicia
3
Italy
3
Italy
4
Galicia
4
Sweden
4
Poland
4
Sweden
5
France
5
Italy
5
Galicia
5
Finland
6
Iceland
6
Norway
6
Sweden
6
France
7
Sweden
7
Poland
7
Norway
7
Belgiim
1919
1920
1921 (5 months)
1
France
1
Italy
1
Russia
2
Belgium
2
Belgium
2
Italy
3
Italy
3
Poland
3
Poland
4
Russia
4
Russia
4
Belgium
5
Sweden
5
France
5
Austria
6
Norway
6
Sweden
6
Denmark
7
Poland
6
Finland
7.
Roumania
Length oj Residence oj the Foreign Born in Canada.— Table 26 shows the total number
of foreign born in Canada in 1921 Iby country of birth and the number and percentage of
each nationality who arrived prior . to 1901. Table 27 groups the percentages for the
European born by territorial and linguistic classes.
A few interesting points are brought out in these tables. First, those of Icelandic birth
show the largest percentage in Canada before 1901, while the Bulgarians, with only 2.2 p.c.
in Canada before that date, showed the smallest. There is considerable variation in the
proportions within both the geographical and linguistic groups. Of the North Western
Europeans, for example, the smallest percentage arriving 'before 1901 appears in the case of
immigrants from Holland; only 5 p.c. of those born in that country and resident in Canada
in 1921 had arrived before the beginning of the century. At the other extreme stands
Iceland, with almost 60 p.c. of the immigrants of Icelandic birth in Canada arriving before
1901. •>
64
DISTRIBUTION OF STOCKS BY LENGTH OF RESIDENCE
The total for the North Western European group was 21.20 p.c, while that for the
South, Eastern and Central Europeans was 14.35 p.c. Thus, from the standpoint of the per-
centage of the foreign bom in Canada who had arrived prior to 1901, confirmation is
given to the previous conclusion that the North Western Europeans as a group were older
immigrants than those from the South, Eastern and Central parts of Europe. While such
a generalization may be true as applying to the broad sections of Europe, among the
Boutih, eastern and central peoples, there were several oo-umbries with larger percentages. Of
the foreign born Galicians of Canada, 16 .p.c. arrived before 1901, of the Austrians and
Russians over 17 pjc. and of the Czeobosiovakians, 12 p.c. The percentage of the Poles
arriving before 1901 was considerably lower than that of the other important Slavic
peoples.
Totals for the linguistic groups show that a larger percentage of the European born
Germanic peoples had arrived in Canada prior to 1901 than obtained for the Scandinavian
group. The percentages for both of these groups, however, were higher than those for
either the Slavs or the Latins and Creeks. 'From the proportions of the foreign born
who had arrived prior to 1901, one is justified in concluding that of the immigrants of this
generation the Germanic peoples were earlier arrivals than the Scandinavians, and the Slavs
than the Latin and Greeks. A detailed examination of these two tables will reveal many
other interesting facts.
TABLE 26.-NUMBER AND PERCENTAGE OF IMMIGRANT POPULATION IN CANADA IN 1921,
WHO ARRIVED BEFORE 1901, CLASSIFIED BY COUNTRY OF BIRTH.
Birthplace
British bom
Foreign born...
Europe
Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Czechoslovakia
Denmark
Finland
France
Galicia
Germany
Greece
Holland
Hungary
Iceland
Italy
Jugo-Slavia
Norway
Poland
Roumania
Russia
Sweden
Switzerland
Ukraine
Others...,
Asia
China
Japan
Syria
Turkey
Others
United States..
West Indies
Other countries.
At sea
(1)
(2)
Number
Total
who arrived
before
' 1901
1,065,454
195,239
890,282
136,834
459,328
74.721
57,525
9,846
13,276
1,410
1,005
22
4,322
520
7,192
1,247
12,156
1,090
19,249
4,146
36,025
5,769
25,266
10,384
3,769
200
5,828
286
7,493
846
6,776
4,010
35,531
3,065
1,946
98
23,127
1,847
29,279
3,069
22,779
2,997
101,055
17,689
27, 700
3,965
3,479
660
11,357
1,320
3,183
235
53,636
8,573
36,924
6,109
11,650
1,426
3,879
. 902
401
54
784
82
374,024
53,109
123
8
3,171
423
653
312
(3)
P.c.
who arrived
before
1901
18-32
15-37
16-27
1711
10-62
219
1203
17-34
8-97
21-54
16-01
41-10
5-31
4-91
11-29
69 18
8,63
504
7-99
10-48
13-16
17-50
14-31
18-97
11-62
7-38
15-98
16-54
12-24
23-25
13-47
10-49
14-20
6-50
13-34
47-78
PERCENTAGE OF EUROPEAN BORN ARRIVED BEFORE 1901
65
TABLE 27— PERCENTAGE OF CONTINENTAL EUROPEAN BORN POPULATION OF CANADA IN
1921 WHO ARRIVED BEFORE 1901, BY SPECIFIED GROUPINGS OF COUNTRIES OF BIRTH.
Birthplace
P.c. who
arrived
before 1901
Birthplace
P.c. who
arrived
before 1901
North Western Europe —
10-62
17-34
21-54
41-10
4-91
59-18
7-99
14-31
18-97
Scandinavian —
17-34
69-18
7-99
Total
14-31
17-08
Germanic—
10-62
Total
21-20
Holland
4-91
Total
17 -'11
2-19
12-03
8-97
16-01
5-31
11-29
8-63
5-04
10-48
13-16
17-50
11-62
27-23
Latins and Greeks —
South, Eastern and Central Europe-
5-31
Italy
8-03
13-16
21-54
Total
12-80
Slavic —
Italy i
17-11
2-19
12-03
1601
Poland
10-48
14-35
17-50
Total
15-81
Table 28 shows the percentage of the foreign born in Canada in 1921 who had arrived
prior to 1901, and the average number of years which the immigrants arriving in Canada
subsequent to that date had been resident in this country. Considerable care was taken
in preparing the figures in column number 2. The census tabulated the number of
immigrants by specified periods of arrival and the calculation was based on that tabu-
lation. The immigration figures for separate countries of birth were used to determine
the average length of time which the immigrants of 1901 to 1910 and 1911 to 1914- had
been in Canada, and for the later periods, the chronological centre was arbitrarily used for
all nativity groups. While an error was thus introduced in certain cases, it was not
considered to invalidate seriously the final result, as the numbers immigrating to Canada
during the latter years of the last decade were exceedingly small.
By making use of the two columns in Table 28 a more accurate idea of the length of
residence of the various immigrant peoples in Canada may be obtained. For example, nearly
60 p.c. of those of Icelandic birth resident in Canada in 1921 came to this country before
1901, and of the remaining 40 p.c. who came after ttoaifc date, the great 'bulk arrived early in
the present century. As contrasted with the Icelanders only a little over 5 p.c. of the
Greeks in Canada at bhe date of the census arrived before 1901, and of the 95 p.c. who
came after 1901 the average length of residence was only 9.5 years, as opposed to 14
years for' those of Icelandic birth. The distribution of the Germans tends to be similar
to that of the Icelanders, while that of the Italians and Bulgarians approximates tn that
of the Greeks.
Now there aire four causes which might combine to explain such differences. First,
immigration from one country may have been earlier than from another. Second, the
death rate among older immigrants may have been higher for one country of birth than
for another. Third, in certain cases large numbers of the earlier immigrants have returned
to their homeland or emigrated to some other part of the world, leaving only the more
Tecent arrivals, while the majority of immigrants from certain other countries have settled
in Canada for life. In the fourth place, the average number of years of residence would
74422—5
66
DISTRIBUTION OF STOCKS BY LENGTH OF RESIDENCE
be increased by the slowing down of immigration in the latter part of the period. Thus,
given an early start, a fairly long average life and a disposition to make Canada a permanent
home, a large percentage will appear as having arrived before 1901, and the average num-
ber of years of residence of those who arrived since 1901 waM be relatively great. On
the other hand, a late start, a high mortality rate or a constant stream of emigrants
returning to their native land will make for small figures in both columns, and their com-
bined influence will >be intensified if immigration during the latter part of the period is
very much greater than in the earlier part.
Space does not permit of a detailed analysis of the data in the light of the foregoing
explanations. The table is inserted so that a more accurate idea of the date of arrival
of the various immigrant peoples may be obtained and an opportunity given to those who
are interested to make further investigation.
TABLE 28— THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF YEARS FOREIGN BORN PERSONS IMMIGRATING SINCE
JANUARY 1, 1901 HAVE BEEN IN CANADA, BY SPECIFIED COUNTRIES OF BIRTH, AND THE
PERCENTAGE OF THE FOREIGN BORN FROM EACH COUNTRY WHO ARRIVED PRIOR TO
1901.
Birthplace
Average
number
of years
immigrants
since 1901
have been
resident
in Canada
P.c.of
foreign
born who
arrived
before
1901
P.c.of
corre-
sponding
origin
Canadian
born
yrs.
11-9
8-5
. 9-6
9-7
10-9
10-3
12-3
9-5
9-5
12-6
14-8
9-5
11-6
10-3
12-0
10-9
11-9
9-3
8-9
9-3
12-2
9-3
PC
1711
10-62
2-19
17-34
8-97
21-54
41-10
5-31
4-91
11-29
59 18
8-63
7-99
10-48
13-16
17-50
14-31
18-97
16-54
12-24
23-25
13-47
p.c.
52-12
33-41
14-96
42-18
36-96
97-02
71-74
30-64
Holland
82-77
60-01
55-06
43-03
34-23
51-78
44-75
49-65
35-33
61-87
7-49
27-31
49-77
-
CHAPTER III
COMPOSITION OF THE POPULATION OF VARIOUS STOCKS IN
RESPECT OF SEX, CONJUGAL CONDITION AND AGE
SEX COMPOSITION OF THE POPULATION OP VARIOUS ORIGINS
For many reasons it is of value to know the relative numbers of males and females
of the different origins and of the immigrants who have come from various parts of the
world. This is especially true in a new country like Canada. Only in the light of the
relative numbers of the sexes can an adequate understanding be arrived at as to the
relation between origin and intermarriage, naturalization, crime, occupational and terri-
torial distribution, the learning of the languages of Canada and many other related problems.
It is also of interest to know with some precision which stocks send whole families to the
country as permanent settlers, and those where the men come to Canada for only a few
years, looking forward to returning to the homeland. Tables 29, 30 and 31 present the
population of Canada by origins, male and female, and show the numbers and percentages
of male surplus.1
In 1921 there were approximately 6 p.c. more males than females in Canada. The
French and Icelandic stocks showed the smallest disparity in numbers of the sexes, with a
surplus of males of only 1 p.c. each. The British, the French, the Jews and the aboriginal
Indians had surpluses ranging from 2 p.c. up to 6 p.c, . the average for Canada.
The figures for the other stocks fluctuated from 8 p.c. surplus (for the Germans, Dutch and
Negroes) to nearly 100 p.c. Indeed,, there are two outstanding cases where the numbers of
males were more than double those of females; first, the Chinese, where there were 15 times
as many males, and second, the Greeks, whose males in Canada exceeded the females by
161 p.c.
It may be added that the surplus of males which appears in every case in the tables is
mainly a surplus of men in the prime of life, a fact which is made clear -by reference either
to Table 35 or to the age distribution of the various stocks in Canada, discussed in
another part of this chapter.
The surplus of males for the North Western European group was 15 p.c, while that
for the South, Eastern and Central Europeans stood at the much higher figure of 26 p.c.
Just how far length of residence enters as a causal factor in these differences is not
subject to' quantitative measurement, but that it exerts an influence is readily seen.
Many male immigrants come to. this country with the expectation of sending for their
families. As the wives and children arrive in Canada, the surplus of males declines; further,
since the various stocks do not differ materially as to the number of male and female
children, the larger the number of families of a given stock in the country, the smaller
the percentage surplus of males appears. Reference will be made again to this difference
between the North Western European stocks and the South, Eastern and Central group.
JThe term percentage surplus as used in. this chapter and throughout the report refers' to
the surplus males per 100 females.
67
74422 — 54 ■
ti8 SEX, CONJUGAL CONDITION, AGE COMPOSITION OF VARIOUS STOCKS
TABLE 29.
-POPULATION BY ORIGIN AND SEX IN CANADA, 1921, WITH PERCENTAGE OF MALES
TO FEMALES FOR EACH ORIGIN.
Origins
Total population
Males as
per cent
tO
females
Number
Male
Number
Female
1,297,133
665,402
602,810
23,111
2,488,456
1,233,637
417
59,280
11,028
1.453
37,163
4,815
12,163
61,062
12,033
153,606
4,150
6,942
8.024
56,338
39,722
10,520
64,029
9.498
38,937
29,127
7*866
55,156
2,527
35,707
6,986
4,595
57,854
893
13,392
9,010
34,559
10,765
5,992
1,248,363
542.415
570,827
18,842
2,380,447
1,219,114
248
48,392
9,206
312
2,424
4,025
8,961
56,444
9,461
141,033
1,590
6,239
7,852
54,476
27,047
5.348
62,167
8,793
29,919
24,276
5,604
44,908
1,379
25,796
5,851
3,687
48,867
723
11,004
7,851
29,229
10.484
4,189
p.c.
104
104
,1.5
' 3
105
101
168
123
120
466
1,533
120
136
108
127
109
261
111
102
103
147
197
103
108
130
120
140
123
183
138
119
125
118
124
121
115
118
103
143
4,529,945
4,258,538
106
1 1'jie ugures tor cue i^rencn in cue Registration Area, of 1921, alone are as follows: iu = 292,082; F = i:71,385; Male to
female 108 p.c. or 8 p.c. surplus males.
Table 31, classifying the data by linguistic groups, presents some interesting facts. The
Germanic group had a surplus of 9 p.c. males, the Slavic of 22 p.c, the Scandinavian of 31
p.c. and the Latin and Greek group of 51 p.c. It would seem clear from these figures that
we are confronted with a somewhat unique alignment of groups in respect to sex distribu-
tion. The German, Dutch and Flemish people and the Slavs appear to have come to this
country and brought their families, while the Scandinavians, the Icelanders excepted, have
sent large numbers of their surplus men. The latter tendency seems to be even more
marked in the Latins and Greeks.
The differences in sex distribution are seen in sharper contrast when we consider only
those people of foreign stock who have been born in foreign countries. Unfortunately, the
data for the foreign born are available only by countries of birth; consequently, the figures
in many cases are not comparable with those for origin. Notable among the countries from
which immigrants of several origins come are Russia, which sends to Canada a large number
of Jews, and Austria, from which large numbers of Germans come and also a certain pro-
portion of immigrants of Jewish extraction. Though immigrants from the Ukraine are prin-
cipally of Slavic origin, there is a considerable admixture of other stocks. The bulk of
the immigrants from Belgium are Flemish, but large numbers of Walloons also come from
that country. While the Latins and Greeks predominate in the immigration from Rou-
mania, many Slavs and some Jews also come from that country, and similarly with a
number of other countries.
However, in certain cases, such as the British Isles, Asia, and the. Scandinavian Penin-
sula, no great error is introduced in identifying origin with country of birth> The same
applies to the larger territorial groups of Europeans. Few of North Western European
SEX COMPOSITION OF VARIOUS EUROPEAN STOCKS
69
extraction come from South, Eastern and Central European countries, and the numbers of
South, Eastern and Central Europeans coming to Canada from North Western Europe are
small when compared with the total immigration thence. With the linguistic groups the
same applies in the case of the Scandinavian, and to a less degree with the Germanic and
Latin and Greek groups. From the Slavic countries, on the other hand, large numbers of
Germans, Jews and other stocks emigrate, so that less reliance should be placed on any com-
parison between the characteristics of those of Slavic origin and of those coming from Slavic
countries.
TABLE 30— POPULATION OF EUROPEAN ORIGIN (OTHER THAN BRITISH AND FRENCH)
IN CANADA, BY SEX WITH PERCENTAGE SURPLUS OF MALES, 1921.
Origin
Males
Females
Percentage
surplus
of males
North Western European —
11,028
12.163
,61.062
153,606
8,024
38,937
35,707
6,986
9,206
8,961
56,444
141,033
7,852
29,919
25,790
5,851
20
36
Dutch
9
9
2
30
38
19
Total
327,513
285,062
15
South, Eastern and Central European —
59,280
4,815
4,150
12,033
6,942
39,722
29,127
7,866
55,156
2,527
57,854
48,391
4,025
1,590
9,461
6,239
27,047
24,276
5,604
44,908
1,379
48,867
23
20
161
27
47
Polish ■
20
40
23
83
18
Total
279.472
221'. 787
26
1 Including Bukovinian, Galician, Ruthenian and Ukrainian.
TABLE 31— POPULATION OF EUROPEAN ORIGIN (OTHER THAN BRITISH AND FRENCH),
ARRANGED BY PRINCIPAL LINGUISTIC DIVISIONS, BY SEX, WITH PERCENTAGE SURPLUS
OF MALES, 1921.
Origin
Males
Females
Percentage
surplus
of males
Scandinavian —
12,163
8,024
38,937
35,707
8,961
7,852
29,919
25,796
36
2
30
38
Total .
94,831
72,528
31
Germanic —
Dutch
61,062
11,028
153,606
56,444
9,206
141,033
8
20
9
Total
225,696
206, 683
9
Latin and Greek —
4,150
39,722
7,866
1,590
27,047
5,604
161
47
40
Total
51,738
34,241
51
Slavic —
59,280
1,453
4,815
29,127
55,156
2,527
57,854
48,391
312
4,025
24,276
44,908
1,379
48,867
23
366
20
Polish
20
25
83
18
Total
210.212
172.158
22
1 Ukrainian includes Bukovinian, Galician, Ruthenian and Ukrainian.
70 SEX, CONJUGAL CONDITION, AGE COMPOSITION OF VARIOUS STOCKS
Table 32 presents the numbers and percentages of males and females for the immigrant
population by country of birth, and the percentage surplus of males over females. A cur-
sory glance will reveal two facts. • First, fchait the surpluses of males are much larger than in
the case of the former tables showing males and females by origin; secondly, that, on the
whole, large percentages of surplus men come from countries where the corresponding origin
figures show large surpluses and vice versa.
For the immigrants born in North Western Europe, there was a 50 p.c. surplus of men,
as opposed to a 15 p.c. surplus for the total population of North Western European origin
in Canada. The figures for South, Eastern and Central Europe are 46 p.c. and 26 p.c. respect-
ively. For the Scandinavians, the respective surpluses are 75 p.c. and 31 p.c, for the Ger-
manic group 33 p.c. and' 9 p.c, for the Latins and Greeks 88 ;p.c and 51 p.c, and for the
Slavs 38 p.c. and 22 p.c In all cases the surplus of males is larger among the immigrants.
Reverting to the figures for origin, the surplus of males in the Germanic group was only
9 p.c. Those of Germanic stock have, as we have seen, been longer in the country than
settlers of any other origin, except British and French. The longer a stock is resident in a
given area the more equal the numbers of males and females normally tend to become. This
is brought about in .two ways; first, the surplus men tend to marry either natives of the
adopted country or wives brought from the motherland. Then the numbers of the stock
increase with the birth of children and the surplus males already in the population consti-
tutes a smaller percentage of the whole. Likewise the surplus of males in subsequent immi-
gration tends to form a smaller percentage of the total population, for it also is compared
with an increasing volume of native stock of the same origin. Of course for a time the
volume' of immigration may increase with abnormal rapidity as compared with the numbers
already resident, but sooner or later it will form a decreasing percentage of the total number
of a given extraction in the adopted country. All the above factors associated with length
of residence co-operate to reduce the percentage surplus of males among the Germans in
Canada, but there is 'one further influence which is of considerable importance, viz., the sex
distribution of the current immigration. The surplus of males among the Germanic immi-
grants is smaller than that in any other linguistic group.
- Among' the' Slavs we have not "only a slightly larger percentage of unattached males in
recent immigration, but as a group the Slavs are of much more recent arrival, with the result
that the proportionate surplus of males for the people of Slavic extraction is over twice as
large as for the Germanic stocks.
The Scandinavians in Canada show a surplus of 31 p.c of males over females, while as a
group, though somewhat earlier on this continent than the Slavs, they show a smaller per-
centage of Canadian born on account of such large numbers coming from the United States.
Besides, the recent immigration from the Scandinavian countries has twice as large a per-
centage of surplus males as immigration from the Slavic group of countries. To be explicit,
there were 75 p.c. more males than females of Scandinavian birth in Canada in 1921. The
figure for the Scandinavians is thus explained on the basis of length of residence in Canada
and the sex distribution of the immigration of these stocks.
Finally, the Latin and Greek stocks, the most recent arrivals, sihow a surplus of 51 p.c
males. Immigration from those countries has increased in recent years at an abnormally
rapid rate, and of all immigrants from Europe the surplus of males is the greatest aimong
the immigrants from the southern countries. There were almost twice as many foreign
born males as females from Latin and Greek countries at the time of the last census.
While it is important to understand the cause of the differences between the numbers
of males and females of the various stocks in Canada, it is of greater importance to appre-
ciate the fact that there are differences and very marked differences in respect to sex dis-
tribution between immigration from the various countries, and, further, that such differences
are of vital importance to the building up of the Canadian people. If the surplus males
represent a floating population which will never settle down or which expects to return to
the motherland after having made a competence, Canada derives comparatively little benefit
from such immigration and incurs all the evils and risks of having in the population a large
body of more or less nomadic males who do not feel the same obligations or loyalty to the
country as do men who, with their -families,- make permanent homes here. If the surplus
of males, on the other hand, consists of men who in due course marry into the population
SEX COMPOSITION OF IMMIGRANT POPULATION
71
already in the country or are merely getting established before bringing their wives and
families to the new land, the case is entirely different.
With this consideration in mind attention is drawn to a few of the figures in Tables
32, 33 and 34. Of all immigrants, the Chinese have the largest surplus of males; the inas-
similability of this stock has dictated legal expedients which have made this inevitable; but
it does not alter the fact that immigration which consists of almost 30 times as many males
as females involves serious social risks. The Bulgarians, though few in number, had over
seven times as many male as female immigrants in Canada in 1921 ; the Greeks showed a
surplus of nearly 400 p.c. There were six other cases where over twice as many males as
females have come to this country. The countries from which these immigrants come rank
as follows: — '
Rank
-
Country of Birth
P.c. surplus
of Males
189
148 '
140
118
114
104
At the other extreme there are the few West Indian born immigrants with a consider-
able surplus of females and the immigrants from Newfoundland and Iceland, where the
female surplus is very slight. Immigration from the United States, the British Isles, the
British Possessions, France and Hungary all show an excess of males less than the average
for all immigrants. In this group of countries settlers from the United States show the
smallest surplus and settlers from Hungary the largest. It is curious to note that the Welsh,
with 33 p.c. more male immigrants than females, differ so radically in sex distribution from
the other stocks of British origin.
TABLE 32— NUMBER AND PERCENTAGE OF IMMIGRANT MALES AND FEMALES IN
CANADA, BY BIRTHPLACE, 1921.
Birthplace
Total
Number
Males
P.c.
Males
P.c.
Females
P.c.
Surplus
of Males
1,955,736
1,065,454
1,025,121
686,663
93,301
226,483
13,779
4,807
88
39,680
2,855
3,848
23,107
1,085
1,760
4,270
2,755
890,282
459,328
57,535
13,276
1,005
4,322
7,192
' 12,156
19,249
36,025
25,266
3,769
5,828
7,493
6,776
35,531
1,946
23,127
29,279
22,779
1,086,542
567,072
545,531
365,678
49,712
119,341
7,873
2,868
59
21,162
1,617
2,582
11,373
613
900
2,444
1,633
519,470
273,892
34,034
7,550
889
2,529
4,932
7,427
10,451
20,805
14,261
3,106
3,489
4,146
3,366
24,219
1,446
14,784
16,864
13,228
55-56
53-22
53-22
53-25
53-28
52-69
57-14
59-66
67-05
53-33
56-64
67-10
49-22
56-50
5114
57-24
59-27
58-35
59-63
59-15
56-87
88-46
58-51
68-58-
61-10
54-29
57-75
56-44
82-41
59-87
55-33
49-68
68-16
74-31
63-93
57-60
58 07
44-44
' 46-78
46-78
46-75
46-72
47-31
42-86
40-34
32-95
46-67
43-36
32-90
50-78
43-50
48-86
42-76
40-73
41-65
40-37
40-85
43- 13
11-54
41-49
31-42
38-90
45-71
42-25
43-36
17:59
40-13
44-67
50-32
31-84
25-69
36-07
42-40
41-93
25
14
14
14
14
11
33
48
104
14
31
104
- 3
30
5
34
46
40
48
45
32
667
41
118
57
19
37
30
369
Holland
49
24
- 1
114
189
77
Poland
36
39
72 SEX, CONJUGAL CONDITION, AGE COMPOSITION OF VARIOUS STOCKS
TABLE 32.— NUMBER AND PERCENTAGE OF IMMIGRANT MALES AND FEMALES IN
CANADA, BY BIRTHPLACE, 1921— Concluded.
Birthplace
Europe — Concluded
Russia
Sweden
Switzerland. . . .
Ukraine
Other
Asia
China
Japan
Syria
Turkey
Other
United States...
West Indies
Other Countries.
At sea
Total
Number
101,055
27,700
3,479
11,357
3,183
53,636
36,924
11,650
3,879
401
782
374,024
123
3,171
653
Males
56,967
18,134
2,203
6,942
2,120
47,211
35,719
8,298
2,395
283
516
196,427
53
1,887
379
P.c.
Males
56-37
65-47
63-32
61-13
66-60
88-02
96-74
71-23
61-74
70-57
65-98
52-52
43 09
59-51
58-04
P.c.
Females
43-63
34-53
36-68
38-87
33-24
11-98
3-26
28-77
38-26
29-43
34 02
47-48
56-91
40-49
41-96
P.c.
Surplus
of Males
29
90
73
57
635
2,867
148
61
140
94
11
-24
47
38
A glance at Table 33 reveals remarkable differences within the geographical and certain
of the linguistic groups. That the tendency to send a surplus of males is a characteristic
rather of the group than of the geographical area is evidenced by the wide disparity in the
percentages shown within both the North Western European and the South, Eastern and
Central European groups; especially in view of the close approximation to the same figure
for the totals. Within the Scandinavian stocks, the Icelanders differ radically from the
other Scandinavians in sending approximately equal numbers of the sexes to Canada.
■Though the uniformity is marked for the Germanic countries, in the Latin and Greek group
the sex distribution of Roumanian immigrants is quite different from that of immigrants
from Italy and Greece. The Roumanians are largely rural people and follow agriculture,
while the Italians and Greeks are commercial and live in the city. With the exception of
the small groups from Bulgaria and Jugo-Slavia there is remarkable uniformity within the
Slavic group.
TABLE 33.— PERCENTAGE OF FOREIGN BORN MALES AND FEMALES AND PERCENTAGE SUR-
PLUS OF MALES, BY GEOGRAPHICAL AND LINGUISTIC GROUPING OF COUNTRIES OF
BIRTH, 1921.
Birthplace
P.c.
Males
P.c.
Females
P.c.
Surplus
Males
Birthplace
P.c.
Males
■P.c.
Females
P.c.
Surplus
Males
North Western Europe-
Belgium
Denmark
France
Germany
Holland
Iceland
Norway
Sweden
Switzerland
Total
South, Eastern and Central
Europe —
Austria
Bulgaria
Czechoslovakia
Finland
Galicia
Greece
Hungary
Italy
Jugo-Slavia
Poland
Roumania
Russia
Ukraine
Total
56-87
68-58
54-i9
56-44
59-87
49-68
03-93
65-47
63-32
60-03
5915
88-46
58-51
61-10
57-75
82-41
55-53
68-16
74-31
57-60
58-07
56-37
61-13
59-40
43-13
31-42
45-71
43-36
40 13
50-32
36-07
34-53
40-85
11-54
41-49
38-90
42-25
17-59
44-67
31-84
25-69
42-40
41-93
43-63
38-87
40-60
50
45
667
41
57
37
369
24
114
189
36
39
29
57
46
Scandinavian —
Denmark
Iceland
Norway
Sweden
Total
Germanic —
Belgium
Germany
Holland
Total
Latin and Greek —
Greece
Italy
Roumania
Total......
Slavic —
Austria
Bulgaria
Czechoslovakia.
Galicia
Jugo-Slavia
Poland
Russia
Ukraine
Total
68-58
49-68
63-93
65-47
63-61
56-87
56-44
59-87
57-02
82-41
68-16
58-07
65-32
59-15
88-46
58-51
67-75
74-31
57-60
56-37
61-13
57-92
31-42
50-32
36-0/
34-53
36-39
43-13
43-36
40-13
42-98
17-59
31-84
41-93
34-68
40-85
11-54
41-49
42-25
25-69
42-40
43-63
38-87
42-1
118
-1
77
90
32
30
33
369
114
39
83
45
667
41
37
189
36
29
57
SURPLUS OF MALES OF DIFFERENT BIRTHPLACES
73
TaBle 34 presents a significant summary. The immigrants from the United States, con-
sisting mainly of British, French, Scandinavian and Germanic stocks and settling to a great
extent in rural areas, show the nearest approximation to equality in the numbers of males
and females. The British born, with 14 p.c. surplus males, rank next. While the majority
of these locate in urban communities1, on the whole they are permanent settlers intending to
make their homes in this country and to assume the responsibilities and duties of citizen-
ship. The Germanic and Slavic countries send larger proportions of females than does any
other foreign group, the United1 States excepted. Among the immigrants from these coun-
tries there was a surplus of only about 35 p.c. males. Of the Europeans, the immigrants from
the Scandinavian and Latin and Greek countries are in a class more or less by themselves,
with 75 p.c. to 88 p.c. surplus males among the foreign born in Canada. As has been pointed
out already, Asiatic immigration is unique in the overwhelming preponderance of males.2
TABLE 34.— SUMMARY TABLE SHOWING PERCENTAGE OF MALES AND FEMALES AND PERCENT-
AGE SURPLUS OF MALES FOR IMMIGRANTS IN CANADA, BY SPECIFIED GROUPS OF
COUNTRIES OF BIRTH, 1921.
Per cent
Males
Per cent
Females
Percent-
age
Surplus
of Males
Total Immigrants
British born
Foreign born
North Western Europe
South, Eastern and Central Europe.
United States
Scandinavian
Germanic
Latin and Greek
Slavic
Asia
55-56
53-22
58-35
60-03
59-40
52-52
63-61
57-02
65-32
57-92
88-02
44-44
46-78
41-65
39-97
40-60
47-48
36-39
42-98
34-68
42-08
11-98
25
14
40
50
46
11
75
33
88
38
635
Earlier in this section the statement was made that were the adult population exam-
ined separately, the proportions of surplus males would be greater than appear in the data
given for the total population of all ages. Such was the expectation because of the ten-
dency for the numbers of the sexes to be more or less equal among children. That such is
actually the case is shown for the foreign born in Table 35. Column 1 gives the percent-
ages of surplus males in the total foreign born population by country of birth and column
2 gives the data for the adult population in each case. Both of the percentages for the
Icelanders are exceptional and no explanation is offered, as the numbers of the sexes are so
nearly equal among the adults as well as the children, and the differences in the percentages
so insignificant that 'the case would seem to be unimportant. The significant point in the
table is that for every other country of birth the surplus of males is greater in the adult
population. In some cases it is very much greater.
Similarly, when the proportions of surplus males are computed for the adult population
of the several origins (Table 36), they are seen to be in excess olf the percentages for all
ages given in Tables 29, 30 and 31. These two tables show that the significant differences
in sex distribution were minimized rather than overstated in the earlier part of this chapter.
Further use will be made of the data in the subsequent discussion' of intermarriage and
fertility, etc.
iSee Table 51, p. 105.
2 The above remarks refer to groups of countries as such; individual exceptions within the groups have
been previously noted.
74 SEX, CONJUGAL CONDITION, AGE COMPOSITION OF VARIOUS STOCKS
TABLE 35— PERCENTAGE SURPLUS OF MALES IN TOTAL FOREIGN BORN POPULATION, COMPARED
WITH SURPLUS OF MALES AMONG FOREIGN-BORN ADULTS (21 AND OVER), BY COUNTRY OF
BIRTH, 1921.
Country of Birth
Percentage
surplus of
males in
foreign born
population,
all ages
Percentage
surplus of
males in
foreign born
population,
21 years
and over
40
48
45
32
667
41
118
57
19
37
30
369
49
24
-1
114
189
77
36
39
29
90
73
57
99
635
2,867
148
61
140
94
11
51
57
53
41
919
47
132
68
22
43
34
440
59
28
-2
135
250
86
47
46
36
102
82
69
104
685
3,427
152
70
179
126
15
TABLE 36— PERCENTAGE SURPLUS OF MALES IN TOTAL POPULATION, COMPARED WITH PER-
CENTAGE SURPLUS OF MALES AMONG ADULTS (21 AND OVER) FOR PRINCIPAL ORIGINS IN
CANADA, 1921.
Origin
Percentage
of Burplus
of males
in total
population,
all ages
Percentage
of surplus
of males
in total
population,
21 years
and over
6
4
4
5
23
23
20
366
1,433
20
36
8
27
9
161
3
11
2
11
5
5
8
38
3
57
38
736
3,263
41
67
13
61
15
370
10
28
2
47
97
8
30
20
40
23
83
38
19
25
18
43
116
153
20
60
48
101
57
228
74
34
63
48
191
RELATION OF CONJUGAL CONDITION TO NATIVITY
75
CONJUGAL CONDITION AND NATIVITY
Data on the conjugal condition of the population are not available for the separate
stocks nor for the different groups of immigrants by country of birth. The census, however,
has published the information classifying the population as Canadian born, British bom
and foreign born. Table 37 shows the percentage single of the population 15 years of age
and over by sex, according to the above classification of places of birth. A few interesting
points brought out in this table may be briefly mentioned.
First, the percentage single for each sex in the case of the Canadian born is greater
than in the case of British born or foreign born in every province except Prince Edward
Island, where the percentages for the foreign. born are somewhat higher. The exception is
interesting but not significant because the number of foreign born in Prince Edward Island
is so very small. Thus in Canada as a whole and in practically every province in Canada,
the proportion of the British born and the foreign born over fifteen years of age who either
are married or have been married, is greater than that for the -Canadian born population.
This may be due in part to the lower age of marriage customary among people born out-
side Canada and in part, to differences in age distribution. These points will be discussed
below, but a probable explanation does not alter the significance of the larger proportion
married, from the standpoint of future population.
The second fact of interest is that for all classes the proportion of females single is
smaller than the proportion of males. That is to be expected- in the light of the previous
discussion on sex distribution. Further, the difference between the percentage of men and
women single, is greater for the foreign born- and British born than for the Canadian born.
That this should be so follows logically from the greater excess of males among the foreign
and British born sections of the population than among the Canadian born. .
In the third place, the percentages of single males of Canadian and British birth, tend
to increase in passing from Ontario westward, and with the exception of Manitoba, the same
tendency is evident among the foreign born from Quebec west. Manitoba with only 30-11
p.c. foreign born males single has the smallest percentage of any province in the Dominion.
The exceptional behaviour of the percentages in the Maritime Provinces may also be noted.
As opposed to the males, the percentages of single females tend to decrease in passing west-
ward from Quebec for all groups except the Canadian born in Manitoba, where there is a
rather larger percentage of single women than in Ontario or the provinces further west.
The two inferences from these facts seem to be; first, that the conjugal condition of
the population differs as between the far east, the central and the far western parts of
Canada, and secondly, that there is a proportionately greater surplus of single foreign born
males in the far -west and in the far east than in the central, provinces.
TABLE 37— PERCENTAGE OF SINGLE MALES AND FEMALES, FIFTEEN YEARS OF AGE AND
OVER, CLASSIFIED AS CANADIAN, BRITISH AND FOREIGN BORN, BY PROVINCES, 1921.
Provinces
Males
Females
All
Classes
Canadian
Born
British
Born
Foreign
Born
All
Classes
Canadian
Born
British
Born
Foreign
Born
39-09
42-88
4119
4011
39-28
36-82
39-90
42-33
42-28
38-71
41-53
43 10
■ 42-33
40-61
40-42
39-60
49-29
47-80
46-96
46-27
31-98
18-36
29-29
29-67
27-85
28-55
34-19
38-78
37-70
33-84
36-57
58-36
39-32
38-26
33-55
34-58
3011
38-69
41 13
36-53
31-96
35-82
33-85
33-46
3702
31-83
29-24
24-73
24-43
25-49
36-28
3614
34-97
34-36
38-24
35-37
40-07
33-43
33-90
35-58
22-06
13-86
22-87
19-51
27-32
23-10
21-58
17-94
1911
20-27
19-35
43-13
27-05
24-52
27-12
18-80
16-10
18-65
18-85
15-14
Table 38 shows the percentage of the population fifteen years of age and over single,
by quinquennial age groups, for Canada. Comparing the -percentages for the males in the
three groups, foreign born, British born and Canadian born, the first point to note is the
76 SEX, CONJUGAL CONDITION, AGE COMPOSITION OF VARIOUS STOCKS
close correspondence between the percentages of single Canadian and British born males
in each age group. The second significant fact is that between 25 and 70 years of age the
foreign born males show a larger percentage who have never married than either the British
or Canadian born. That the foreign born males tend to marry younger than the Canadian
born and British born, is made clear on examination of the percentages for the lower age
groups. In spite of the large shortage of women the foreign born males actually showed
a smaller proportion single between the 'ages of 15 and 25 yea,rs than either of the other
groups.
In the figures for the females greater differences appear. The British born females
show a smaller percentage single at all ages above 20 than do the Canadian born, and the
foreign born females show much smaller percentages single at all ages than the British
born. Thus a larger proportion of the foreign born women not only have married younger
than the Canadian born, but the foreign born females have married to a far greater extent
than the Canadian born women at all ages. The foreign born women (in proportion to
their numbers) are therefore contributing to future population far more than the British
born or Canadian born. This fact is extremely significant from the standpoint of the
population structure of the country, and its importance is increased when one notes that
the greatest differences between the proportions married are at the earlier ages of the child-
bearing period.
In the absence of separate figures for the different stocks and groups of foreign born,
a detailed analysis of the various origins in respect of conjugal condition is impossible,
but the section on age distribution, when read in connection with Chapter VI on inter-
marriage, will provide the reader with material for making definite deductions as to the
behaviour of the several stocks in the matter of marriage and as to the effect of their
differing behaviour on the population structure of the Dominion.
TA%SJ?.vrSERCENTAGE OF POPULATION FIFTEEN YEARS OF AGE AND OVER SINGLE, BY
QUINQUENNIAL AGE GROUPS AND SEX, CLASSIFIED AS CANADIAN, BRITISH OR FOREIGN
BORN, FOR CANADA, 1921.
Canadian Born
British Born
Foreign Born
Age Group
Males
Females
Males
Females
Males
Females
Per cent
single
Per cent
single
Per cent
single
Per cent
single
Per cent
single
Per cent
single
15-19
99-44
81-83
47-59
27-51
19-71
16-07
13-76
12-83
11-22
10-99
9-32
8-67
7-80
7-36
6-69
7-12
4-67
1-96
93-94
61-39
33-94
' 21-12
16-27
14-51
13-11
13-17
11-81
12-14
11-15 ■
11-63
11-38
11-66
11-59
10-90
10-55
5-97
99-46
83 09
47-72
26-92
19-59
16-62
14-62
12-44
U-03
10-64
'9-57
8-78
8-15
7-57
710
6-84
1-75
4-76
94-90
50-12
22-29
12-17
9-30
7-99
8-12
7-83
7-11
6-94
6-90
7-98
6-97
8-34
6-38
8-11
9-40
5-56
99-27
81-15
48-08
29-72
21-69
17-77
14-86
13-79
12-81
11-57
9-66
9-42
7-77
6-64
6-53
9-02
7-32
11-11
86-35
20-24
25-29
30-34
6-09
35-39 ■
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
4-32
75-79
80-84
85-89
90-94
2-07
95-99
THE AGE DISTRIBUTION OF THE FOREIGN BORN
Just as an individual at one age is radically different in -disposition, capacity and
outlook from what he was at an earlier or will be at a later age, so a population differs
materially with the changing age distribution of the people who compose it. A people with
unduly large numbers in the prime of life has characteristics which are much less pronounced
in a population with large numbers of small children or with a considerable proportion of
men and women above middle age. In making comparisons, then, between different
population groups in respect to social or anti-social behaviour, the age distribution is an
important factor which must be reckoned with before valid conclusions can be reached.
AGE DISTRIBUTION OF THE FOREIGN BORN 77
To what extent differing characteristics are due to differences in age distribution is a
matter for nice calculation, and can usually be estimated with very considerable accuracy
when sufficient data are available. The present study is somewhat handicapped in respect,
of age statistics for the foreign born population. White many types of information are
available for the population by country of birth, age data have been assembled for the
different sections of the foreign born population, only by three broad classifications, viz.,
Canadian born, British born, and foreign bora. That information, however, is exceedingly
useful when other data are also classified by the same broad nativity groups, and the
present subsection is devoted to presenting the facts, making certain explanations, and
suggesting some of the consequences which follow from the various types of age distribution
in these different sections of the population.
Age Distribution and Nativity. — Table 39 shows the numbers and percentages of each sex
found in -specified age groups for the total population in Canada and the three nativity
groups which compose it. Charts 19, 20, 21 and 22 (p. 80) present the same data in graphic
form.
A glance will reveal great differences as between the first two and last two charts. The
chart for the total population is a composite diagram of which the other three form the
component parts, and since our object is the making of an analysis, attention is focussed
on the latter three.
Among the Canadian born over 40 p.c. of the population is under 15 years of age. This
is the first outstanding point of difference when comparison is made between the age dis-
tribution of the Canadian and either the British or the foreign born. Of the British born
only 7-74 p.c. of the males and 8-58 p.c. of the females are below the age of 15 years and
in the foreign born group 9-77 p.c. of the males and 12-99 p.c. of the females. Thus on June
10, 1921, the Canadian born section of our population had four to five times as large a pro-
portion of children under the adolescent age as had either the British or foreign born.
The figures for 1921, however, rather over-emphasize the difference in age distribution
for two important reasons, viz., the comparatively small immigration during the last six
years of the decade 1911-1921, and the fact that children of immigrant parents are added to
the Canadian born. The two causes undoubtedly result in a higher age distribution among
the British and foreign born in Canada at the close of the ten-year period than would other-
wise have obtained. It is worth noting that the figures in themselves do not neces-
sarily prove an abnormal age distribution among immigrants. There might have been
nearly as large a proportion of immigrants prior to 1914 under 15 years of age as was found
in the total population, and a resultant age distribution of the foreign born somewhat
similar to that in 1921. By 1921 the children of 1914 would have grown to adult manhood
and womanhood. Their places in the community would have been taken by a new genera-
tion— not of foreign born but of Canadian 'born children of immigrant parentage. The pro-
portion of children in the population group classed as of Canadian birth would thus natur-
ally appear unduly high and at the same time there would be a gross deficiency in the lower
age group of the foreign born. Such influences were at work prior to the year 1921, the effect
being intensified by the comparative cessation of immigration, and the result was that neither
the age distribution of the Canadian born nor that of the British nor foreign born even
approximated to that of a normal population. The percentage below 15 years was abnorm-
ally large in the Canadian group and abnormally small in the other two. The chart for the
population as a whole more nearly represents the normal distribution, though if even that
were compared with similar charts for other European countries, marked differences would
appear, especially in the lower and upper age groups.
It should also be pointed out that the comparative cessation of immigration and the
obvious necessity of classifying all children of immigrants born in Canada as of Canadian
birth, though the most important, were not the sole causes of the abnormal age distribution
of the British and foreign born in 1921. The age of incoming immigrant people prior to the
war is also an important factor, for the age distribution of immigrants is quite different
TABLE No. 39.-NUMERICAL AND PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION BY QUINQUENNIAL AGE GROUPS OF MALE AND FEMALE POPULATION IN CANADA 1921
CLASSIFIED AS CANADIAN BORN, BRITISH BORN AND FOREIGN BORN rrA1J1Ijr' ™™ ha hum ^ainaua, laji,
Males
All classes
pc
Canadian born
PC
British born...
PC
Foreign born . .
PC
All classes
P-c
Canadian born
P-c
British born...
P-c
Foreign born. .-
P-c
Total
4,518,344
1000
3,432,864
100-0
566,778
100-0
518,702
100-0
Under 15
1,523,469
33-72
1,428,930
41-63
43,879
7-74
50,660
9-77
15-19
403,259
8-93
323,015
9-41
40,440
7-14
39,804
7-67
20-24
350, 984
7-77
260,154
7-58
43,085
' 7-60
47,745
9-20
25-29
347,645
7-70
227,344
6-62
53,494
9-44
66,807
12-88
30-34
343,263
7-60
202,339
5-89
70,672
12-47
70,252
13-54
35-39
342,313
7-58
193,064
5-62
80,897
14-27
68,352
13 18
40-44
286,470
6-34
169,258
4-93
65,166
11-50
52,046
1003
45-49
236,896
5-24
149,130
4-34
47,775
8-43
39,991
7-71
50-54
195,141
4-32
127,914
3-73
38,023
6-71
29,204
5-63
55-59
148,137
3-28
103,449
3-01
25.431
4-49
19,257
3-71
6D-64
126,400
2-80
91,195
2
19,775
3-49
15,430
2-97
65
and over
Females
4,248,862
100-0
3,379,968
1000
498,209
1000
370,685
1000
1,496,091
35-21
1,405,172
41-57
42,756
8-58
48,163
12-99
398,559
9-38
323,535
9-57
38,278
7-68
36,746
9-91
360,227
8-48
270,110
7-99
'47,539
9-54
42,578
11-49
338,874
7-98
233,787
6-92
55,628
1117
49,459
13-34
309,623
7-29
203,046
601
61,094
12-26
45,483
12-27
290,080
6-83
185,925
5-50
63,213
12-69
40,942
11 04
240,666
5-66
160,066
4-74
50, 773
1019
29.827
805
198,133
4-66
137,945
4-08
36,842
7-39
23,346
6-30
166,817
3-93
120,021
3-56
29, 195
5-86
17,601
4-75
132,167
3-11
99,220
2-94
20,358
4-09
12,589
3-40
112,885
2-66
86,281
2-55
16,924
3-40
9,630
2-61
214,367
4-74
157,072
4-58
38,141
6-73
19,154
3-69
204,740
4-82
154.860
4-58
35,609
715
14,271
3-85
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Go
o
o
■*!
S3
o
Go
Co
O
O
Co
AGE DISTRIBUTION OF THE .FOREIGN BORN 79
from that of a non -migrating population. There is usually a much larger percentage of
unattached adults in the prime of life, especially of men. The great bulk of immigrants
consists of persons above 15 years of age, and a continuous stream of immigration into a
country could not but result in the existence of a proportion of the population with an
abnormal concentration in the age groups 20-45 and an abnormal deficiency in the groups
under 15 years.
Now the comparative absence of children in any considerable section or community
tends to be reflected very clearly in the attitude of that section both in respect to social
conduct and public policy. A complete understanding of social .movements and of public
opinion as it expresses itself in social legislation in a new country such as ours cannot be
attained without taking into account the important factor of abnormal age distribution,
especially in sections where such large proportions of the population have arrived compara-
tively recently from overseas. Here, as in many other instances, the fields of the statis-
tician and of the political and social philosopher come together.
To compensate for the small percentage of children among the immigrant population,
both the British and foreign born show proportions very much, larger than the Canadian
born in the age groups from 25 to 45 years. Indeed, in all groups above 15 years the per-
centages both male and female for the British born are greater than for the Canadian born,
and the same holds true for the foreign born except at very advanced ages. After 45 years
of age, however, the differences are not so great as in the four five-year age groups preceding
45. Thus the immigrant population, while marked by a smaller percentage of children, has
the second important characteristic of an abnormally large proportion in the most active
years of adult life. That also reflects itself in the outlook and enterprise of a population
group, and is of equal importance with the comparative paucity of children in explaining
many phases of life in those districts where considerable proportions of the population are
new Canadians who have recently arrived from abroad. Enterprise may be directed to social
or anti-social ends. A balanced population in respect of the proportion married and having
families tends to keep the activities of adult manhood and womanhood in social channels.
A population unbalanced in respect to age distribution, while capable of phenomenal pro-
gress when its energies are directed along constructive lines, is peculiarly subject to anti-
social action and may become a serious menace to the body politic of which it forms a part.
Thus age distribution is important from two points of view. First, as was pointed out
at the beginning, it is necessary as a means of correcting crude data before comparing two
sections of a population of entirely different age structures, in respect to a given char-
acteristic. For example, before legitimate comparison is possible, crude statistics as to crime
for the Canadian born population and the foreign. born must be adjusted. Crime is far
more frequent at certain ages than at others, and allowance must be made when one group
has an unduly large proportion of its numbers at the ages most marked by criminal tend-
encies. Such corrections may be made with a great degree of accuracy, and that specific
problem is dealt with in detail in a subsequent chapter.
] The second point of view from which age statistics are valuable is in helping to explain
such differences in behaviour of two sections of the population as may be attributed solely
to the absence of people of other ages in normal proportions. Twice as large a proportion
of men between 20 and 40 years of age will mean a larger amount of crime in the community
merely because of the numerical addition of a large percentage among whom the crime rate
is greater. But the simple numerical correction would not be enough to account for the
amount of crime which would actually occur in such a community. The mere fact of age
distribution tends to increase the criminality of each one of those surplus men by reducing
the influences combating crime emanating from the existence of numbers of younger and
older people in a neighbourhood. Unfortunately the influence of this last aspect of age
distribution is very difficult of measurement, but that its existence is real cannot be doubted.
The four diagrams reveal another type of difference. The age- distribution ■ of males
and females differs in the four charts. The normal distribution is for males to be slightly
in excess of females in early childhood. The high mortality rate among male children
80 SEX, CONJUGAL CONDITION, AGE COMPOSITION OF VARIOUS STOCKS
Charts XIX-XXII
AGE DISTRIBUTION or TOTAL POPULATION >n CANADA , 192 1
%45 40 3S 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 S '0 IS 20 25 30 35 40 45 %>
65 ANO OVER
60 - 64
55-59
50-54
4S -49
40 -44
35 -39
30-34
25-29
20 -24
IS -19
UNOER IS
—~ MALES ZI^lJ^IIZ .FEMALES ZZ~
— HJLULU II ILXXJmLJ I
AGE DISTRIBUTION or CANADIAN BORN.n CANADA ,1921
. males:
FEMALES
65 ANO OVER
60-64
55-59
50-54
45 - 49
40-44
35-39
30-34
25-29
20-24
15-19
UNOER 15
AGEDISTRIBUTIONof FOREIGN BORN in CANADA ,1921
65AND0VER
60-64
55 - 59
50-54
45-49
40-44
35 - 39
30 - 34
25-29
20-24
15-19
UNDER 15
FEMALES
MALES :
.
AGE DISTRIBUTION or BRITISH BORN in CANADA ,1921
: males:
males.
FE
65 ANO OVER
60-64
55-"- 59
50-5 4
45-49
40-44
35-39
30-34
2 5-2 9
20-2 4
15-19
UNOER 15
%45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 Q * '0 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 %
Afo/e: //7 d-&>c6 of/A&pe fear ofecr/&/??s\/6e /ofe/ /ny/vfe/- o/'/7z?/?s' &/?c//fa /a/?/
/?&/77per o/ /e/Tr^/ev //7 e&c/' f/v&p /s £>A-&r?zs> /oa.
AGE DISTRIBUTION OF DIFFERENT STOCKS 81
tends to even up the proportions before the adult age is reached, liven from 20 to 45, owing
to higher mortality among women during the ©hild-bearing period, the proportion of men is
usually greater than that of women in a population.
Now, aimong those of Canadian birth, the proportions at the respective ages are very
nearly equal, and in that respect the age distribution tends to be closer to the normal than
in the case of the British or foreign born. However, contrary to the normal expectation, the
proportion of Canadian born females from 14 to 35 years is slightly greater than that of
malles. For the ages 20 to 35 the explanation is very obvious. First, a large number of
young men were killed during the war, and the figures are for 1921, only two and one-half
years after the cessation of hostilities. In the second place, emigration was probably
another contributory factor, as men emigrate to a far greater extent than do women.
For the British born the differences are much larger. Below 30 years'of age the females
are concentrated to an appreciably more marked degree than the males. The same obtains
to an even greater extent among those of foreign birth. In the group under 15 years of age
almost one per cent more British born and over three per cent more foreign born females
than males are found. The explanation is not hard to find. When the number of women
in the population is small compared to that of men, the female children will tend to form
a larger percentage of all females than will the male children of all males, the numbers of
children of each sex being roughly equal. The explanation of the higher percentage of
females for the years immediately above that group may be found in the tendency of larger
proportions of women to immigrate in the early years of womanhood. Many, come to marry
men who have arrived at an earlier date, and a lag of five years in the largest female age
group behind that of the largest male group is quite consistent with a normal inflow of
immigration. Further, following the war, immigration from a number of countries showed
an abnormally large proportion of females, so that in 1921, for which year the age distribu-
tions are charted, the surplus of foreign born women between 20 and 30 years of age resulted
from the interaction of several causes with which everyone is familiar. The same phenome-
non characterized to a less extent the age distribution of the British born and the same forces
were operative.
An age lag also appears in the case of the adult female immigrants, who show smaller
proportions than do the males in the higher age groups. The age lag in the higher groups
has been handed on from immigration in previous decades, and the deficiency of females at
those higher ages tends to compensate for the larger proportions of females among the groups
of children 15 years of age and under.
There is one other point of interest presented in the charts. The largest percentage of
men of foreign birth was in the age group 30 to 34, while the largest percentage of men of
British birth appeared in the group 35 to 39. The highest percentage of women immigrants
from foreign countries was in the age group 25 to 29, while the largest percentage of women
of British birth appeared in the age group 35 to 39. The explanation seems to be that on
the average the British immigrants either came to Canada at a later age or arrived at an
earlier date than the foreign born immigrants.
AGE DISTRIBUTION OF THE DIFFERENT STOCKS IN CANADA
Table 40 shows the numbers and percentages of the principal stocks in Canada by
specified age groups. In the previous subsection attention was focussed on the ages of the
population by broad nativity groups, and especially on the foreign born section of our popu-
lation. Detailed data for the foreign born by countries of birth were not directly available,
but it has been possible to compile the present origin table showing the percentages for each
74422—6
82 SEX, CONJUGAL CONDITION, AGE COMPOSITION OF VARIOUS STOCKS
stock under 10 years of age, between 10 and 20, and 21 years and over. Much useful informa-
tion is contained in this table regarding the various origins of the population of Canada,
though onlly a partial analysis can be attempted here.
In the first place it is noteworthy tq find a wide variation in the percentages. From
the Chinese with less than 6 p.e. of their number under 10 years of age to the Austrians
■and Ukrainians with between 35 and 37 px. in that age group, is an exceedingly wide spread.
Similar differences appear in the other age groups. Now, variation in age distribution as
between different sections of the population is exceedingly significant. That has been
pointed out in respect to broad nativity groups, but there is this difference when dealing
with similar data for the respective stocks, namely, that when age distribution for a given
stock is abnormal, the unusual distribution applies to a more or less homogeneous section
of the community and not merely to the Canadian born or the foreign born portion of a
stock. When the nativity groups for a given stock are combined, as they are under ordinary
conditions in real life, the resulting population may constitute a fairly normal group in
respect of age distribution. Table 40 shows very clearly, however, that this frequently does
not occur. With many stocks in Canada, the combined influence of immigration, sex dis-
tribution, birth rate and death rate has resulted in quite unusual age groupings. In a great
many cases the population of a given origin forms a very definite section within the com-
munity, and what has been said regarding social behaviour and abnormality in age distribu-
tion has considerable point when it is shown that such differences actually do exist in quite
distinct population groups.
Table 41 arranges the stocks according to linguistic groups and shows the percentages of
each stock and the average percentage for each group in the three specified age classes. In
the first place, of all groups the British show the lowest proportion below 10 years of age
and the highest in the group 21 and over. There are only two isolated cases where lower
percentages are shown in the earlier ages, namely, the Bulgarians and the Chinese. In both
of those stocks the numbers of males were far in excess of the females. In the case of those
of Chinese origin it was found that there were fifteen times as many males as females in
Canada and between four and five times as many of Bulgarian origin. This great dispropor-
tion between the sexes is the chief explanation for the percentages under 10 years of age
being lower among these two peoples than for the British stock in Canada.
With those minor exceptions, then, the British stocks show the smallest number of
children under 10 years of age and larger proportions 21 years and over than any other
European group. The Scandinavian and Germanic stocks have a little higher proportion in
the earlier age group and a little smaller in the adult age group ; the age distributions of the
Scandinavian and Germanic stocks are very similar. Passing to the Latins and Greeks and
the Slavs, quite a radical difference is at once apparent. The former group shows 32-2 p.c. and
the latter 34-5 p.c. under 10 years, proportions notably larger than for the North Western
Europeans. The percentages 21 years and over are correspondingly lower, with the excep-
tion of that for the Greeks, whose age distribution is altogether unique.
It is thus clear that there are marked differences in the age distribution of the various
stocks and groups of stocks in Canada. The Latin and Greek and the Slavic peoples have
on the whole much larger proportions under 10 years than have the English, Scandinavians,
Germans or French, and consequently smaller percentages 21 years of age and over. No
generalization can be made regarding the Asiatics. The Chinese with their small proportion
of women have, as one would naturally expect, a very small number of children in their
population; yet the Japanese, in spite of a very considerable surplus of males, have as large
a proportion under 10 years of age as the average Scandinavian or Germanic stock. A stock
like the Syrian ranks along with the Slavic people in age distribution. The causes for these
differences and their implications are exceedingly important, and will be dealt with in Chap-
ter XII, where comparison will be made between the: fertility of the various stocks.
AGE DISTRIBUTION OF DIFFERENT STOCKS
83
TABLE 40.-PERCENTAGE AGE DISTRIBUTION OF THE VARIOUS STOCKS IN CANADA IN 1921.
Origin
P.O.
under
10 year?
P.O.
10 to 20
years
P.c.
21 years
and over
Total
English
Irish
Scotch
Welsh
French
Austrian
Belgian
Bulgarian
Chinese
Czech
Danish
Dutch
Finnish
German
Greek
Hebrew
Hungarian
Icelandic
Italian
Japanese
Lithuanian
Negro
Norwegian
Polish
Roumanian... .
Russian
Serbo-Croatian
Swedish
Swiss
Syrian
Ukrainian
Unspecified
Various
Indian
24-86
54-25
•84
■27
•23
•15
•65
•11
•59
•46
■35
■83 ■
■80
•76
■93
•72
•76
•10
■45
•15
■16
•82
•55
•05
•07
•00
•87
■94
■95
•33
■68
•75
•47
•03
•47
74422--6J
84 SEX, CONJUGAL CONDITION, AGE COMPOSITION OF VARIOUS STOCKS
TABLE 41.
-PERCENTAGE AGE DISTRIBUTION OF SPECIFIED STOCKS IN CANADA IN 1921, BY
LINGUISTIC AND OTHER GROUPINGS.
Origin
P.c.
under
10 years
P.c.
10 to 20
years
P.c.
21 ycnrs
and over
24-86
21-61
20-00
20-70
22-33
20-90
19-55
19-13
19-07
18-52
54-25
British—
58-84
60 -2V
60-23
59-15
21-00
19-50
59-50
27-79
24-56
17-65
Scavdinaviav —
26-26
22-47
26-88
23-55
19-94
22-37
20-05
20-12
54-80
55-15
53 07
56-33
25-00
20-30
54-60
Germanic —
23-82
24-79
24-90
24-59
21-45
22-38
54-59
53-76
52-72
24-80
22-10
53-10
Latin and Greek —
26-83
32-04
35-31
9-41
- 17-81
16-82
63-76
5016
47-87
32-20
17-10
50-70
Slavic—
35-31
• 14-27
28-17
34-64
33-70
32-91
27-40
36-60
21-58
8-27
24-01
19-80
21-30
23-15
17-65
22-93
4311
77-46
47-83
45-55
45 00
43-94
54-95
40-47
34-50
22-30
43-20
Asiatic —
5-18
24-03
32-72
8-47
815
21-54
86-35
67-82
45-74
13-40
10 10
76-50
CHAPTER IV
DISTRIBUTION OF POPULATION STOCKS AND NATIVITY
GROUPS BY PROVINCES
In Chapter I attention was centred on the proportions of different stocks in the popula-
tion of Canada as a whole. It was seen that Canada is as yet predominantly British and
French, but that in the decades previous to 1921 important changes had taken place which,
if continued, would definitely 'alter the composition of the population in a comparatively
short period. The proportion of foreign born in the population was also discussed and
attention directed to the newer arrivals of foreign origin. The significance of the wide
fluctuations in the numbers and proportions of the foreign born was also emphasized.
In the second chapter an examination was made of the distribution of the foreign stocks
from the point of view of their length of residence in Canada. First, attention was drawn
to the different proportions of our population born in Canada, the United States and other
countries. Then a more detailed examination was made of the foreign born portions of the
foreign stocks and of their increases from decade to decade. Some conclusions were reached
as to the dates of immigration for the various groups and also as to the relative magnitude
and changing sources of recent immigration.
Important as are such considerations, in some ways they are overshadowed by the
territorial distribution of the different stocks in Canada. The geographical distribution of
the foreign stocks is especially significant. In dealing with this topic several questions
are suggested: How are the foreign stocks and the foreign •born distributed among the
different provinces of Canada? What changes are taking place in those proportions? How
are the foreign stocks distributed as between urban and rural districts? What is the signifi-
cance of the differences appearing and how are they to be explained? This section attempts
to answer the first two of the above questions and certain others incidental to them.
DISTRIBUTION OF VARIOUS STOCKS BY PROVINCES
Table 42A shows the .percentage distribution of the various stocks in Canada at the last
three census enumerations. The first column shows the percentage of British origin in the
population of each province in 1921. Prince Edward Island with 85 p;c. had by far the
largest proportion of British stock. Nova Scotia, Ontario and British Columbia were also
predominantly British by extraction, with a proportion of well over 70 p.c. in each case.
As is to be expected, the proportion of French origin in the province of Quebec is far
greater than in any other section of the country. New Brunswick ranks second, with almost
a third French. Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia follow in the order named with
much smaller percentages. In the West the proportion of French stock in the population
is small, ranging from five to seven p.c. in the Prairie Provinces, and dropping as low as
two p.c. in British Columbia. Ontario stands midway between the Maritimes and the
Prairie Provinces with respect to the proportion of persons of French origin in its
population.
A comparison of column 2 and ■ column 3 reveals the interesting fact that while the
proportions of French stock in the eastern provinces are large as compared with the West,
the reverse obtains in the case of other European origins. From Quebec east, the propor-
tion of other European origins in the populations of the respective provinces is less than
10 p.c. In fact, Nova Scotia with 9.34 p.c. is the only province east of Ontario with a
significant intermingling of foreign stocks. In Prince Edward Island the proportion is less
than one p.c. Passing west, it is seen that Ontario and British Columbia have about the
same proportions of other European origins, with between 11 and 12 p.c. in each, while
the proportions in^the three Prairie Provinces range between 30 and 40 p.c. It would be
85
TABLE 42A.— PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF THE POPULATION OF VARIOUS ORIGINS IN CANADA, BY PROVINCES, 1901, 1911, 1921.
GeozraDhical Division
1921
1911
1901
British
Origin
French
Origin
Other
European
Indian
Origin
Asiatic
Origin
British
Origin
French
Origin
Other
European
Indian
Origin
Asiatic
Origin
British
Origin ■
French
Origin
Other
European
Asiatic
Origin
Indian
Origin
p.c.
55-40
85-34
77-81
65-23
15-12
77-79
57-53
52-86
59-79
73-87
p.c.
27-91
13-51
10-81
31-22
80 01
8-46
6-66
5-56
• 5-25
2-14
p.c.
1416
0-67
9-34
2-53
3-85
11-99
32-99
39-14
31-16
11-63
p.c.
1-26
0-27
0-39
0-34
0-49
0-91
2-27
1-70
2-47
4-27
p.c.
0-75
011
0-28
0-21
0-22
0-31
0-28
0-43
0-73
7-57
p.c.
54 08
84-23
76-92
65-33
15-76
76-25
57-77
50-97
51-46
64-38
p.c.
28-52
13-99
10-51
28-02
80 04
8-01
6-71
4-72
5-29
2-27
p.c.
12-81
0-97
10-14
308
2-97
12-83
28-09
35-85
30-22
14-61
p.c.
1-46
0-26
0-39
0-44
0-60
1-07
2-87
2-38
305
5- 13
p.c.
0-60
003
014
0-09
011
018
0-21
0-25
0-56
7-84
p.c.
57-03
8511
78 13
71-73
17-60
79-35
64-35
43-92
47-83
59-56
p.c.
30-70
13-43
9-83
24-15
80-18
7-27
6-28
2-89
6-18
2-57
p.c.
8-51
0-97
1015
2-84
1-36
11-39
22-36
33-30
26-84
12-48
p.c.
0-41
002
0-02
0-06
003
0-08
005
0-34
10-90
p.c.
2-38
Prince Edward Island
0-25
0-35
0-44
0-62
113
6-37
19-43
18-38
16-20
TABLE 42B— PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF THE POPULATION OF VARIOUS ORIGINS IN CANADA, BY PROVINCES, 1901, 1911, 1921.
~0
'to
o
1—1
to
— . i
to
h—
to
C3
i—i
C
Geographical Division
Per cent
British
Origin
Per cent
French
Origin
Per cent
European
Origin
Per cent
Asiatic
Origin
Per cent
Indian
Origin
1921
1911
1901
1921
1911
1901
1921
1911
1901
1921
1911
1901
1921
1911
1901
p.c.
55-40
85-34
77-81
65-23
' 15- 12
77-79
57-53
52-86
'59-79
73-87
p.c.
54 08
84-23
76-92
65-33
15-76
76-25
57-77
50-97
51-46
64-38
p.c.
57-03
8511
78-13
71-73
17-60
79-35
64-35
43-92
47-80
59-56
p.c.
27-91
13-51
10-81
31-22
8001
8-46
6-66
5-56
5-25
2-14
p.c.
28-52
13-99
10-51
28-02
80-04
8-01
6-71
4-72
5-29
2-27
p.c.
30-70
13-43
9-83
24-15
80-18
7-27
6-28
2-89
6-18
2-57
p.c.
14-16
0-67
9-34
2-53
3-85
11-99
32-99
39 14
3116
11-63
p.c.
12-81
0-97
1014
308
2-97
12-83
28-09
35-85
30-22
14-61
p.c.
8-51
0-97
10 15
2-84
1-36
11-39
22-36
33-30
26-84
12-48
p.c.
0-75
0-11
0-28
0-21
0-22
0-31
0-28
0-43
0-73
7-57
p.c.
0-60
003
0-14
0-09
011
018
0-21
0-25
0-56
7-84
p.c.
0-41
002
002
- 0-06
003
008
0-05
0-34
10-90
p.c.
1-26
0-27
0-39
0-34
0-49
0-91
2-27
1-70
2-47
4-27
p.c.
1-46
0-26
0-39
0-44
0-60
1-07
2-87
2-38
305
5-13
p.c.
2-38
0-25
0-35
0-44
0-62
1-13
6-37
19-43
18-38
16-20
On
■ ^
d
&5
fa
©
to
o
CI
"3
PROPORTION OF SPECIFIED STOCKS IN VARIOUS PROVINCES
87
difficult to over-emphasize the significance of these facts. In the middle western provinces,
the relative proportion of foreign stocks is- from three to thirty times greater than in
other parts of Che Dominion, and on the average perhaps four times greater than in
the East as a whole. The structure of the population in the Prairie Provinces is thus
entirely different from that in Ontario and the Maritime Provinces. Reference will be
made bellow to the consequences of this fact.
The Asiatics form a far larger proportion in the population of British Columbia, where
the Orient and Occident meet, than in any other .province. The percentage is ten times
greater than in Alberta, which stands second, and the proportions generally decline in
passing eastward.
The significance of these figures may be brought out more clearly by arranging the
provinces in rank according to the proportion of British, French, Other European and Asiatic
stocks in taheir populations in 1921 : —
Province
Rank
Province
Rank
British Origin-
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
French Origin —
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Other European Origin —
Asiatic Origin —
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
The material in Table 42A is presented also in Charts 23, 24, 25 and 26.
Table 42B shows the same data as presented in the previous table with the percentages
of each origin grouped by years. The material is so arranged that the decennial1 increases
or decreases in the proportions of the several stocks are easily seen. The table makes
possible a comparison between the percentage of each origin in the years 1901-1911-1921.
In Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia the proportion of British origin remained
about the same over the period. There were slight decreases in New Brunswick, Quebec,
Ontario and Manitoba, and significant increases in Saskatchewan, Alberta and British
Columbia.
These differences may be explained in terms of the relative influx of British and
foreign immigration, emigration, movement of population between provinces, different rates'
of natural increase of the British and non-British stocks and the stationary character of
the native Indian population. The relative importance of these influences varies. For
instance, in New Brunswick the more rapid increase of the French both by immigration
and natural increase is of major importance; in Quebec the paucity of British immigration,
coupled with a high rate of natural increase among the native population; in Ontario,
foreign immigration and the movement of French from the adjacent, province of Quebec; and
in Manitoba, foreign immigration coupled with the higher rate of natural increase among
the foreign stocks in that province. The latter point is especially important in Manitoba,
where such large proportions of the population are of foreign origin. The increases in the
proportions of British stock in the three provinces west of Manitoba are due partly to heavy
immigration of British from the United States and, in the case of British Columbia,
from Great Britain. Further, in the West the Indian population was of very considerable
dimensions in 1901. For example, in Saskatchewan it constituted nearly 20 p.c, of the
population in 1901, but in 1921 only 2 p.c. The existence of this group, which is prac-
tically stationary in numbers, would in itself make for percentage increases in the other
growing stocks "and cannot be neglected among the "influences accounting for the. relative
increase of the British in the three western provinces.
88 PROVINCIAL DISTRIBUTION OF STOCKS AND NATIVITY GROUPS
Charts XXIII-XXV
PERCENTAGEof BRITISH STOCK. nthe POPULATION or the
SEVERAL PROVINCES, 1921.
Prince Edward Is.
Nova Scotia
io
20 30
40
50
60
70
80 90
ioo£
Ontario
British Columbia
New Brunswick
Alberta
Manitoba
Saskatchewan
Quebec
PERCENTAGEof FRENCH STOCK. nthe POPULATION ofthe
SEVERAL PROVINCES, 192 I.
Quebec
New Brunswick
Prince Edward Is.
Nova Scotia
Ontario
Manitoba
Saskatchewan
Alberta
British Columbia
PERCENTAGE of other EUROPEAN STOCK m the POPULATION
ofthe SEVERAL PROVINCES, 1921.
Saskatchewan
Manitoba
Alberta
Ontario
British Columbia
Nova Scotia
Quebec
New Brunswick
Pmnce Eowaro Is.
PROPORTION OF SPECIFIED STOCKS IN VARIOUS PROVINCES 89
The proportion of French in Prince Edward Island, like that of British origin, showed
little change. The same holds true of Quebec and Manitoba. There were slight increases
in the density of French stock in Nova Scotia and Ontario and significant increases in the
case of New Brunswick and Saskatchewan. In Alberta and British Columbia the proportion
of French stock declined in the 20-year period, owing mainly to the disproportionate
increase in British stock through immigration.
Turning to the proportions of Continental European origins, it is seen that for Prince
Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Ontario and British Columbia, the propor-
tions in 1921 were very slightly different from those of 1901. In British Columbia the per-
centage was two p.c. higher in 1911, but with this exception there was little variation dur-
ing the twenty years in these five provinces. On the other hand, in each of the provinces
of Quebec, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, increases in the proportions of foreign
stocks were marked. The increase was smalllest in Quebec and greatest in the province of
Manitoba, where the proportions changed from 22-36 p.c. in 1901 to 32-99 p.c. in 1921 —
an increase of between 45 and 50 p.c. The increases were also extremely significant in the
other Prairie Provinces and were consistent throughout the period.
In the case of the Asiatic origins, while the proportions increased for the whole of
Canada, in the province of British Columbia their relative density decreased during the
period. In this respect British Columbia differs from every other province in the Dominion,
for in all other provinces the proportions of the population of Asiatic origin have increased
consistently since the beginning of the century. An explanation of this is found in the
relatively small numbers of Asiatics in the provinces to the east of British Columbia at
the beginning of the century. For instance, in Saskatchewan there were only 42 Asiatics in
1901. while British Columbia already had 19,4S2. In the two subsequent decades the actual
number of Asiatics in British Columbia increased by 20,342, yet tlie total population
increased more rapidly, resulting in a net decrease in the proportion of Asiatics in that
province in 1921. In Saskatchewan, on the other hand, the numerical increase was only
3,252, but this represented a rate of increase on the original 42 in 1901 which was much
faster than that of the total population. The absolute increase in British Columbia was
between six and seven times greater than in Saskatchewan.
Chart XXVI
PERCENTAGEorASIATIC STOCK inthc POPULATION oftmc
SEVERAL PROVINCES, 1921.
%0 12 3 4 5 6 7891
1 ' | 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
0'/o
Alberta ■■
Saskatchewan ■
Ontario 9
Manitoba I
Now Soon a 1
Quebec 1
New Brunswick 1
Prince Eowvro li 1
90 PROVINCIAL DISTRIBUTION OF STOCKS AND NATIVITY GROUPS
THE BIRTHPLACES OF THE POPULATION BY PROVINCES
Table 43 (p. 96) shows the distribution of the population by birthplace for Canada and
the provinces, in 1911 and 1921. Tables 44 and 45 arrange the data for the European born by
geographical and linguistic groups and Table 46 presents a summary for Canada and the
Provinces. The information in these rather formidable tables may best be presented by
the use of charts.
The nine provinces, arranged in order of the percentage of their population Canadian
born in 1921, are as follows (See chart 27) : —
Province . Percentage
Canadian born '
Prince Edward Island 97-33
New Brunswick 94-47
Quebec 92-01
Nova Scotia 91-69
Ontario 78-13
Manitoba 63-55
Saskatchewan 60-44
Alberta 53-55
British Columbia 50-34
The first point to note is the wide range of fluctuations in the proportions. The per-
centage of Canadian born is almost twice as high in Prince Edward Island as in British
Columbia. Indeed from Quebec east the proportion of native Canadians is on an entirely
different level from west of Ontario. Changes in population structure in the Eastern Prov-
inces are. thus going on very slowly, but as we move westward from Ontario the population
appears to be in an increasing state of flux. The percentage of Canadian born fluctuates
so violently that the traveller finds on reaching the Pacific coast that he has passed from
the far East where less than 3 p.c. of the population was born outside of Canada to the
extreme West, where nearly half consists of immigrants.
A comparison of the proportions Canadian born in 1911 and 1921 by provinces (Table
46) shows that the provinces stand in the same rank at the last two Census dates, though
the proportions of Canadian born are slightly less in 1911 than in 1921 in the East and con-
siderably less in the provinces from Ontario west.
Chart 27 also shows the proportions of the population born in the British Isles at the
date of the 1981 census. The provinces arranged in order are as follows: —
Province Percentage
British born
British Columbia 29-31
Manitoba 18-32
Alberta 16-57
Ontario 15-35
Saskatchewan 13-09
Quebec '.' 3-59
Nova Scotia 3-16
New Brunswick 2-46
Prince Edward Island 0-94
Attention again is directed to the wide range of the percentages. In contrast with the pre-
vious table, the proportion of the population born in the British Isles is very much heavier
from Ontario west, as compared with Quebec and the Maritimes. The proportion of British
immigrants in the population of the five western provinces is four to eight times as great
as in Quebec, which shows the highest percentage of any of the four eastern provinces. Thus
the effect of British immigration in the past generation on the composition of the population
in the various provinces has been to give a more than proportionate number of settlers to
the, provinces from Ontario west. . In 1921 British Columbia showed the largest percentage
of her population born in the British Isles. While Ontario, as will be shown later, has
received a much greater total number of British immigrants than any other province, her
population is several times as large as that of any western province, so that British immi-
grants, though great in numbers, constitute only a moderate percentage of her total popu-
lation. In comparison with the other western provinces, it seems that Saskatchewan has
not been receiving a proportionate share of British immigration; Table .46 shows that in
1911 Saskatchewan had a somewhat larger percentage .of British immigrants than Ontario,
but the situation was reversed by 1921. In all provinces except Quebec, Ontario and British •
Columbia, there was a lower proportion of the population born in the British Isles in 1921
than in 1911." ' '
BIRTHPLACES OF THE POPULATION OF THE PROVINCES 91
Chart 27 shows in addition the proportions of foreign born in the population of the
respective provinces in 1921. They rank in the following order: —
Province Percentage
foreign bora
Alberta..'. 29-56
Saskatchewan '. 26-31
British Columbia 19-02
Manitoba 17-91
Ontario 6-21
Quebec 4-18
New Brunswick 2-77
Nova Scotia 2-67
Prince Edward Island 1-46
As in the case of the .proportions Canadian born and of those born in the British Isles,
there are wide fluctuations in the percentages foreign born in the different provinces. The
four western provinces are in a class quite by themselves. While Ontario ranked with these
provinces in the percentage of her population born in the British Isles, she ranks with
Quebec and the Maritime provinces in the proportion foreign born in her population. From
Manitoba east there is a very marked change in the proportion of foreign immigrants in
the population. The percentage of the lowest of the western provinces is three times as
large as the percentage in Ontario, the highest of the eastern provinces, and the difference
becomes greater as we approach the extremes in each case. Such a marked difference
between east and west in the proportion of foreign born in the population cannot but result
in radical differences in "their attitude towards the problems of government, education and
business.
Another interesting fact is presented in Table 46 when comparing the proportions of
foreign born at the two census dates. In Ontario and eastward there was a higher percentage
foreign born in 1921 than in 1911, while in Manitoba and westward there was a lower per-
centage in 1921 than in 1911. Probably the immigration of United States born to the
cities in the East in recent years and the comparative cessation of immigration of other
foreign iborn to the western provinces during and subsequent to the war, togefeher with the
dying off of the older immigrants, have an important bearing on these differences.
The proportions of North Western European immigrants in the population of the
various provinces appear below.
Percentage
born in
Province ' North Western
Europe
Alberta 4-53
Saskatchewan 4-33
Manitoba 3-46
British Columbia 2-91
Ontario 0-73
Quebec 0-47
Nova Scotia -. . .' 0-41
New Brunswick 0-25
Prince Edward Island : 0-02
The range of fluctuations is significant in this case also. There is a distinct drop in the
proportion of Northern European born, as in the case of all foreign born, as we pass^ from
Manitoba . to Ontario and eastward. It is interesting to find that Alberta had a higher
proportion of North Western European immigrants in her population than any other
province in the Dominion. The proportion of North Western Euopean birth in 1921 was
lower than in 1911 in all provinces except Prince Edward Island, where the actual numbers
were negligible. The principal explanation is arrested immigration.
The relative density of the South, Eastern and Central European born in the various
provinces was as follows: —
Percentage South, Eastern and
Province Central European born
Manitoba 10-57
Saskatchewan 9-94
Alberta 7-26
British Columbia : 3-07
Ontario '. 2-74
Quebec 1-70
Nova Scotia 0-70
New Brunswick 0-25
Prince Edward Island 0-02
92 PROVINCIAL DISTRIBUTION OF STOCKS AND NATIVITY GROUPS
Chakt XXVII
PERCENTAGES of POPULATION .CANADIAN BORN, BRITISH
ISLES BORNano FOREIGN BORN,by PROVINCES, 1921.
%0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100%
PRINCE EDWARD IS.
NOVA SCOTIA
T
«;»*««■»«•#*/#•«»//■
W/.777777i
QUEBEC
ONTARIO
MANITOBA
SASKATCHEWAN
ALBERTA
BRTISH COLUMBIA
new Brunswick ^mEwiiLWibwmwniWEmzLwnL'm
mmwnnnm.
w7mwmwiLwm7ffli7mwzL7mi
■p«
mm '{M/wt/T, mrr, wjtt/ m
7m.7M/.7ffl7,
'UmUllMML.
mmmMMMmmm
wmmzTzmwiL]
mmm
wMTzmwmTsm
>imi'MM
3&0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100%"
Canadian born
roREISN BORN
British Isle} born |
BIRTHPLACES OF THE POPULATION OF THE PROVINCES 93
Notice in the first place that the variation in the percentages shows a greater range of
fluctuation between the provinces than was found in the figures for North Western European
immigrants. One should not infer from this that, relatively to population, North Western
Europeans have been more evenly scattered over the Dominion. In fact the reverse proves
to be the case. While the actual fluctuations are much smaller for the North Western group,
their numbers are also much smaller; so also is their proportion of the population in the
respective provinces. For purposes of comparison, then, it is necessary to take this difference
into account as is done by the use of the coefficient of variation. For the North Western
Europeans the coefficient was found to be 153 p.c, while for the South, Eastern and Central
Europeans it was 97 p.c. The coefficients are large in both cases, but while the extremes
are further apart in the case of the South, Eastern and Central European group, the co-
efficients indicate that on the whole they are more evenly distributed among the population
in the various provinces than are the North Western European immigrants. The wide range,
however, is significant as emphasizing the difference in the proportions of South, Eastern and
Central Europeans in the populations of the provinces at the two extremes, viz., Manitoba
and Prince Edward Island.
In the three Prairie Provinces, South, Eastern and Central European imimigrants fonm
a much larger proportion of the total population than in any other part of Canada. Passing
eastward the decline is very marked. It may be noted also that the proportions in the four
western provinces were considerably lower in 1921 than in 1911, while in Ontario, Quebec
and Nova Scotia they were somewhat higher.
In connection with provincial distribution of the Scandinavian born, it is rather
significant that only from Manitoba westward has that group other than a very negligible
place in the population. The percentages for the four western provinces are as follows: —
Percentage
Province Scandinavian born
Alberta 2-68
Saskatchewan 2-57
British Columbia 2-01
Manitoba 1 -83
In all cases the proportions were smaller in 1921 than in 1911.
The proportions of the population born in Germanic countries in the several provinces
appear below: —
Percentage born in
Province Germanic countries
Alberta 1-36
Saskatchewan 1 • 26
Manitoba l-08
British Columbia 0-54
Ontario 0-43
Nova Scotia 0-19
Quebec 0-17
New Brunswick 0-07
Prince Edward Island negligible
Here again we find a larger proportion in the West than in the East, though the
differences are not so marked as in the case of the total North Western Europeans and
especially of the South, Eastern and Central groups. In all cases the proportions were lower
in 1921 than in 1911.
The data for the Latin and Greek group are presented in the following table, where the
provinces are ranked according to the percentages of those immigrants in their respective
populations: —
\ Percentage born in Latin
Province and Greek Countries
British Columbia 1-07
Saskatchewan 1-05
Alberta 0-98
Ontario 0-69
Manitoba : 0-61
Quebec 0-61
Nova Scotia 0-19
New Brunswick 0-06
Prince Edward Island 0-01
94 PROVINCIAL DISTRIBUTION OF STOCKS AND NATIVITY GROUPS
As in the case of the Germanic group, greater uniformity appears to obtain in the pro-
portionate distribution, of the Latins and Greeks ' in the more populous provinces of ths
Dominion. The figures seem naturally to group themselves into three classes. British
Columbia, Saskatchewan and Alberta show the highest proportion, and between them the
differences are slight. The same uniform tendency obtains for Ontario, Manitoba and
Quebec. Those provinces stand on a lower level. The Maritime Provinces show very
much smaller percentages than either of the other two sections of the country.
Another important fact in connection with the Latin and Greek immigrants as con-
trasted with the other linguistic groups, is that the proportion of the population of Canada born
in those countries was higher in 1921 than in 1911, and that in every province where their
numbers are significant, with the exception of British Columbia, the proportions in 1921
were either as great as or greater than in 1911.
Little need be said of the Slavic group* except to present the figures: —
Percentage born in
Province Slavic countries
Manitoba 9-72
Saskatchewan 8-09
Alberta: 5-81
Ontario 1-64
British Columbia 1-58
Quebec 1-07
Nova Scotia 0-47
New Brunswick 0* 18
Prince Edward Island 0-01
■ Fluctuations in the proportions of foreign born Slavs in the populations of the various
provinces, are marked. The concentration in the Prairie Provinces is worthy of notice. While
in the west the proportions in 1921 were smaller than those in 191(1, two provinces in the
East showed larger proportions of their population born in Slavic countries in 1921 than
ten years previously. These provinces were Ontario and Nova Scotia.
The rank of the provinces according to the proportions of United iStates born is
interesting : —
Percentage
Province United States born
Alberta 16-97
Saskatchewan 11-57
British Columbia. '. 6-66
Manitoba 3-55
Ontario 2-41
New Brunswick 2-13
Quebec 1-78
Prince Edward Island 1-37
Nova Scotia 1-34
Comparing aid the provinces, it is seen that Alberta and Saskatchewan- had by far the
largest proportions of their populations born in the United States. The percentages gradu-
ally declined elsewhere, yet unlike those for any of the groups of origins previously examined,
they are by no means negligible for the Maritime Provinces. For some time there has been
a considerable movement of both British and French Canadian stock from the Eastern
States back to Canada, and it is believed that this migration largely accounts for the
percentages of American born in the far East being larger than the percentages for other
immigrants. The bulk of the American immigrants in the western provinces are of British,
Scandinavian and Germanic stock.
Another interesting fact is brought to light in comparing the figures for 1921 with those
for 1911. In British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan the proportions United States
born were lower in 1921 than in 1911, but in Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and) the other
eastern provinces the proportions were higher.
* These immigrants born in Slavic countries include a very large number who are Hebrews
by origin.
BIRTHPLACES OF THE POPULATION OF THE PROVINCES 95
The proportions of Asiatics in the various- provinces 'in 1921 appear below: —
Percentage born in
Province Asiatic countries
British Columbia '. 6-22
Alberta '.: , 0-68
Saskatchewan 0-40
Ontario : 0-26
Manitoba 0-24
Quebec 0-17
Nova Scotia .' 0-14
Now Brunswick . 0-11
Prince Edward Island 0-04
Comment is hardly necessary in this connection except to note the rather significant
fact which appears on examination of the figures in Table 46. While in Saskatchewan,
Alberta and British Columbia the', proportion in the respective populations born' dn Asia
was lower in 1921 than in 1911, in all other provinces it was higher at the time of the last
census.
By way of comparing the relative proportions of the .population, by place of birth in
1921 and 1911, the following resume is made- first, the proportion of British immigrants in
the population decreased in the Prairie Provinces, while in Ontario, Quebec and British
Columbia the proportion increased. The same tendency characterized- the foreign born on
the whole, though in the case of British Columbia the proportion was lower in 1921. The
North Western European born showed a' lower percentage in all provinces except Prince
Edward Island, while the South, Eastern and Central European immigrants, though showing
a lower percentage in the four western provinces, constituted a larger percentage in Ontario
and the East generally in 1921 than in 1911. Both the Scandinavian and Germanic immigrants
showed smaller percentages' throughout in 1921, while on the whole - the proportion of
Latin and Greek group increased in the decade. The increase for the latter group
was most marked in the Middle West and Quebec. In Ontario the proportion remained
constant. British Columbia is the outstanding exception, with a decline of approximately 50
per cent.
The Slavic born (including the bulk of those who are of Hebrew origin) show a smaller
percentage in 1921 in all provinces in the West, while in Ontario and Nova Scotia the pro-
portion born in Slavic countries increased in the decade. That difference is partly due to
the fact that between 1911 and 1914 Ontario, and Nova Scotia received on the whole larger
proportions of the main Slavic stocks in their immigration than in the previous decade,
while most of the other provinces got, smaller proportions. Then since the war there was a
more rapid recovery of Russian and especially of Polish immigration to Ontario than to the
other provinces.
A somewhat similar situation appears to obtain as regards the United States born.
In 1921 the proportion was considerably lower than in 1921 in the three western provinces
but sLigbtly higher in Eastern Canada.
TABLE 43.— PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF THE POPULATION, BY BIRTHPLACE, FOR CANADA AND THE PROVINCES, 1911 AND 1921.
Birthplace
Canada
Prince
Edward
Island
Nova
Scotia
New
Brunswick
Quebec
Ontario
Manitoba
Saskatch-
ewan
Alberta
British
Columbia
1911
1921
1911
1921
1911
1921
1911
1921
1911
1921
1911
1921
1911
1921
1911
1921
1911
1921
1911
1921
100
77-98
1116
0-41
10-44
5-62
0-94
011
0-28
0-02
0-07
0-15
0-24
0-44
0-55
004
0-05
015
010
0-48
0-29
1-25
0-39
007
0-57
0-37
0-12
004
003
001
4-21
100
77-75
11-66
0-45
1013
5-23
0-65
015
001
005
0-08
0-14
0-22
0-41
0-29
004
007
009
008
0-40
002
0-26
0-33
0-20
115
0-32
004
013
004
0-61
0-42
013
004
001
0-01
4-25
100
97-25
1-49
0-25
1-00
0-08
001
0-01
0-01
001
002
001
002
001
001
0-89
100
97-33
0-94
. 0-26
1-46
0-04
001
001
001
0-01
004
001
0-03
1-37
100
92-63
3-35
1-78
2-23
106
012
012
002
001
0-01
0-08
0-05
0-11
0-01
001
007
014
0-02
0-25
"003
001
011
003
0-07
001
0-98
100
91-69
3-16
2-47
2-67
113
007
011
0-01
003
002
016
002
007
002
0-01
0-02
0-15
001
0-02
011
002
0-22
0-02
002
0-02
014
0-06
0-08
1-34
100
94-80
2-66
0-23
2-31
0-58
001
0-02
003
007
0-05
0-04
0-01
001
0-01
0-08
0-04
0-16
004
0-01
007
0-03
004
1-64
100
94-47
2-46
0-29
2-77
0-52
002
003
001
0-06
001
005
0-03
0-01
0-01
0-05
004
002
001
013
003
001
011
005
0-06
213
100
92-67
3-45
0-17
.3-71
205
015
007
0-20
0-01
001
0-30
0-02
009
003
0-01
001
0-32
0-02
0-76
002
003
014
008
004
001
001
1-49
100
92 01
3-59
0-22
4-18
2-21
0-13
0-10
001
001
0-26
003
004
005
0-0!
001
0-33
0-01
012
0-23
0-77
002
0-02
0-02
004
017
0-09
0-06
001
0-01
1-78
100
79-99
13-99
0-20
5-89
3-44
0-38
002
011
003
0-27
0-07
014
0-59
004
003
007
001
0-63
006
0-77
015
0-05
0-22
011
001
0-04
005
0-01
2-20
100
78-13
15-35
0-30
6-21
3-51
0-27
0-08
002
003
003
0-27
008
013
0-31
0-05
004
003
0-61
002
005
0-44
013
0-67
011
0-03
007
004
0-26
018
001
0-05
002
2-41
100
58-64
20-39
0-21
20-74
16-92
5-02
0-50
0-48
004
013
0-03
0-63
2-61
0-93
0 01
016
0-2J
111
015
0-31
3-55
0-84
017
0-24
0-18
001
003
0-01
001
3-54
100
63-55
18-32
0-21
17-91
14-08
2-87
0-54
011
015
004
0-48
2-40
0-37
002
017
010
0-78
016
001
0-25
0-94
0-43
2-83
0-6.J
007
0-69
005
0-24
0-21
001
002
3-55
100
50-52
16-28
017
33-02
18-50
3-22
0-26
1-35
011
O-20
Oil
O-60
1-79
1-63
001
013
112
0-27
005
1-55
4-69
1-26
010
0-31
0-24
0-01
004
0-01
0-01
14-14
100
60-44
13 09
015
26-31
14-30
2-25
0-28
0-02
0-12
0-23
010
0-43
1-28
0-85
003
013
0-62
018
0-05
004
1-22
0-44
0-97
3-74
0-97
007
0-28
0-03
0-40
0-35
001
003
0-01
11-57
100
43-25
18-23
0-38
38-13
15-70
2-83
0-27
0-95
0-10
0-37
0-27
0-49
1-55
1-63
003
0-30
0-31
0-06
0-49
1-54
2-68
1-70
0-13
0-59
0-48
0-06
002
001
002
21-74
100
53-55
16-57
0-31
29-56
11-85
1-70
0-28
0-01
0-19
0-43
0-21
0-36
116
0-78
004
0-3J
012
0-04
0-42
0-03
1-13
0-50
0-52
1-97
111
013
0-37
0-06
0-68
0-58
0-07
002
001
16-97
109
43 14
28-16
1-90
26-78
10-22
1-12
0-20
0-10
0-10
019
0-54
0-32
015
0-78
017
01J
017
006
2-07
0-95
101
1-81
0-38
6-88
4-8J
201
003
0-03
0-01
9-57
100
50-34
29-31
1-31
19 02
604
0-27
015
001
Oil
0-18
0-36
0-26
008
0-29
009
Holland
010
0-04
0-06
Italy
0-92
009
0-68
Poland
017
0-06
0-83
109
010
004
Other
006
6-22
410
208
002
001
001
6-66
"a
to
O
o
to
to
o
•*!
Co
►-3
O
Co
<
to
to
o
"a
Note.— Where percentage is omitted it is less than 1/100 of one per cent and so is negligible.
TABLE 44 -PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF CONTINENTAL E UROPEAN BORN IN CANADA, BY PROVINCES AND GEOGRAPHICAL GROUPING
mow t . QF COUNTRIES 0F BIRTH, 1911 AND 1921.
Country of Birth
Canada
Prince
Edward
Island
Nova
Scotia
New
Brunswick
Quebec
Ontario
Manitoba
Saskatch-
ewan
Alberta
British
Columbia
1911
1921
1911
1921
1911
1921
1911
1921
1911
1921
1911
1921
1911
1921
1911
1921
1911
1921
1911
1921
North Western European —
Oil
007
0-24
0-55
005
0-10
0-29
0-39
Hi
0-08
0-22
0-29
007
0-08
0-26
0-32
004
001
001
001
001
0-01
012
001
0-08
011
001
002
003
011
0-02
016
007
001
0-02
0-02
0-02
007
0-05
004
001
004
0-04
003
0-06
0-05
0-03
001
0-04
0-03
0-07
001
0-30
009
0-01
0-02
002
0-10
0-01
0-26
004
001
0-01
002
002
0-02
003
007
' 0-59
0-03
001
006
015
008
003
0-08
0-31
004
005
011
003
0-50
013
0-68
0-93
016
1-11
0-31
0-84
0-54
015
0-48
0-37
017
0-78
0-25
0-65
0-07
0-26
0-20
0-60
1-68
0-13
0-27
1-55
1-26
0-28
0-20
0-43
0-85
013
018
1-22
0-97
0-07
0-27
0-37
0-49
1-63
0-30
006
1-54
1-70
0-28
0-40
0-36
0-78
0-30
0-04
113
111
013
0-20
019
0-32
0-78
0-10
0-06
0-95
1-81
015
1-80
1-51
003
002
0-38
0-41
0-27
0-25
0-52
0-47
0-96
0-73
4-66
3-46
5-95
4-33
6-36
4-53
4-41
2-91
Central, South and Eastern European —
0-94
0-28
002
015
0-44
004
0-15
0-48
1-25
0-6L
001
005
014
0-41
004
009
0-40
002
0-33
0-26
115
0-13
001
002
001
001
012
002
001
005
001
0-07
014
0-25
0-07
0-01
003
002
002
0-02
015
001
011
002
0-22
0-02
001
003
0-01
008
016
002
001
001
0-05
002
001
013
015
0-20
0-01
0-02
003
001
0-32
0-76
013
001
0-03
0-05
001
0-33
012
0-23
0-77
0 02
0-38
011
0-27
014
004
0-07
0-65
0-77
0-27
0-02
003
0-27
013
005
003
0-61
0-02
0-44
013
0-67
007
502
0-48
0-04
003
2-61
001
0-20
015
3-55
2-87
011
004
2-40
0-02
0-10
016
001
0-94
0-43
2-80
0-69
3-22
1-35
011
011
1-79
001
112
005
4-60
2-25
0-02
012
010
1-28
0-03
0-62
005
004
0-44
0-97
3-74
0-28
2-83
0-95
•o-io
0-27
1-55
003
0-31
0-49
2-68
1-70
001
0-19
0-21
116
004
012
0-42
0-05
0-50
0-52
1-97
0-37
112
010
0-10
0-54
015
0-17
0-17
2-07
101
0-27
001
011
0-36
0-08
009
004
0-92
009
017
006
0-83
004
Total
3-35
3-68
0-03
002
0-67
0-70
0-29
0-25
1-50
,1-70
2-43
2-74
12-09
10-57
12-45
9-94
9-21
7-26
5-43
307
Note. — Where percentage is omitted it is less than 1/100 of one per cent.
feg
ft)
fcq
Go
to
to
cj
o
o
CI
to
o
"■3
to
o
to
>,
TABLE 45.-PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF CONTINENTAL EUROPEAN BORN IN CANADA, BY PROVINCES AND LINGUISTIC GROUPING OF COUNTRIES
OF BIRTH, 1911 AND 1921.
Birthplace
Canada
Prince
Edward
Island
Nova
Scotia
New
Brunswick
Quebec
Ontario
Manitoba
Saskatch-
ewan
Alberta
British
Columbia
1911
1921
1911
1921
1911
1921
1911
1921
1911
1921
1911
1921
1911
1921
1911
1921
1911
1921
1911
1921
Scandinavian —
0-07
0-10
0-29
0-39
0-08
0-08
0-26
0-32
001
0-01
001
0-02
0-03
002
0-02
002
007
004
0-04
0-06
004
003
001
0-02
002
001
001
002
003
001
006
015
0-03
0-05
011
013
111
"0-31
0-84
0-15
0-78
0-25
0-65
0-20
0-27
1-55
1-26
0-20
0-18
1-22
0-97
0-37
006
1-54
1-70
0-40
0-04
1-13
111
0-19
006
0-95
1-81
0-18
0-06
0-68
1-09
Total
085
0-74
0-01
001
006
006
015
0-13
005
004
0-25
019
2-39
1-83
3-28
2-57
3-67
2-68
3-01
201
Germanic —
011
0-55
0-05
015
0-29
0-07
001
-
012
011
0-01
011
007
0-01
002
004
0-01
003
003
0-01
0-07
009
001
0-10
0-04
001
0-02
0-59
003
0-08
0-31
004
0-50
0-93
0-16
0-54
0-37
0-17
0-26
1-68
013
0-28
0-85
013
0-27
1 63
0-30
0-28
0-78
0-30
0-20
0-78
0-10
015
0-29
010
Holland
Total
0-71
0-51
0-01
-
0-24
019
007
0-07
017
0-15
0-64
0-43
1-59
1-08
2-07
1-26
2-20
1-36
108
0-54
Latin and Cheek —
004
0-48
0-04
0-40
0-26
001
001
0-01
014
002
015
0-02
001
008
0-05
001
003
0-32
005
0-33
0-23
004
0-6i
0-05
0-6!
013
0-01
015
002
0-16
0-43
001
005
003
0-05
0-97
0-03
"0-49
004
0-42
0-52
017
2-07
009
0-92
006
Italy
Total '.
0-52
0-70
001
0-01
015
0-19
0-09
006
0-35
0-61
0-69
0-38
0-77
011
014
0-69
016
0-61
006
105
0-52
0-98
2-24
107
Slavic —
0-94
1-25
0-28
0-44
0-65
1-15
001
002
0-41
002
0-33
0-13
002
001
012
0-25
002
005
007
0-22
001
0-01
0-02
001
011
0-02
001
016
003
0-02
013
001
0-02
0-15
0-76
0-20
002
0-13
0-77
003
0-12
002
0-27
0-67
002
002
0 13
0-02
0-44
0-07
502
3-55
0-4S
2-61
2-87
2-80
001
2-49
001
0-94
0-69
3-22
4-69
1-35
1-79
2-25
3-74
002
0-04
1-28
0-04
0-44
0-28
2-83
2-68
0-93
1-55
1-70
1-97
001
005
116
0-05
0-50
0-3J
1-12
101
010
015
0-27
0-83
001
009
008
009
017
004
Poland
Total
2-91
2-72
002
0-01
0-44
0-47
0-20
018
113
107
1-40
1-64
11-66
9-72
1105
• 8-09
8-01
5-81
2-38
1-58
Note. — Where percentage is omitted it is less than
/100o
one pe
r cent.
*0
So
o
&3
•-a
So
to
O
o
Co
•-a
o
o
&
to
So
o
-« TABLE 46 —SUMMARY TABLE SHOWING PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION BY BIRTHPLACE OF POPULATION OF CANADA AND THE PROVINCES, BY SPECIFIED
£ GROUPINGS OF COUNTRIES OF BIRTH, 1911 AND 1921.
Birthplace
Canada
Prince
Edward
Island
Nova
Scotia
New
Brunswick
Quebec
Ontario
Manitoba
Saskatch-
ewan
Alberta
British
Columbia
1911
1921
1911
1921
1911
1921
1911
1921
1911
1921
1911
1921
1911
1921
1911
1921
1911
1921
1911
1921
77-98
11-16
10-44
5-62
1-80
3-35
0-85
0-52
0-71
2-91
0-57
4-21
77-75
11-66
10-13
5-23
1-51
3-68
0-74
0-70
0-51
2-72
0-61
4-25
97-25
1-49
1-00
0-08
0-03
0-03
001
001
001
0-02
002
0-89
97-33
0-94
1-46
0-04
002
0-02
001
001
0-01
004
1-37
92-63
3-35
2-23
1-06
0-38
0-67
0-06
0-15
0-24
0-44
011
0-98
91-69
3-16
2-67
113
0-41
0-70
0-06
019
0-19
0-47
0-14
1-34
94-80
2-66
2-31
0-58
0-27
0-29
015
0-09
007
0-20
0-07
1-64
94-47
2-46
2-77
0-52
0-25
0-25
0-13
006
0-07
018
011
213
92-67
3-45
3-71
205
0-52
1-50
005
0-35
017
113
014
1-49
9201
3-59
4-18
2-21
0-47
1-70
0-04
0-61
0-15
107
017
1-78
79-90
13-99
5-89
3-44
0-96
2-43
0-25
0-69
0-64
1-40
0-22
2-20
78-13
15-35
6-21
3-51
0-73
2-74
0-19
0-69
0-43
1-64
0-26
2-41
58-64
20-39
20-74
16-92
4-66
12-09
2-39
0-16
1-59
11-66
0-24
3-54
63-55
18-32
17-91
1408
3-46
10-57
- 1-83
0-61
108
9-72
0-24
' 3-55
50-52
16-28
33-02
18-50
5-95
12-45
3-28
0-06
2-07
1105
0-31
14 14
60-44
13-09
26-31
14-30
4-33
9-94
2-57
1-05
1-26
8-09
0-40
11-57
43-25
18-23
38 13
15-70
6-36
9-21
3-67
0-52
2-20
801
0-59
21-74
53-55
16-57
29-56
11-85
4-53
7-26
2-68
0-98
1-36
5-81
0-68
16-97
43 14
28-16
26-78
10-22
4-41
5-43
3-01
2-24
1-08
2-38
6-88
9-57
50-34
29-31
1902
6-04
2-91
3 07
201
107
0-54
1-58
6-22
6-66
13
tq
to
o
^
Co
O
"=3
O
^-
<;
to
ta
t-<
Co
tg
3
ta
to
ta
to
O
to
^
to
^
"o
to
o
o
ta
100 PROVINCIAL DISTRIBUTION OF STOCKS AND NATIVITY GROUPS
Table 47 presents a summary from a different point of view. It ranks the provinces
according to the relative density of the population by specified countries and groups of
countries of birth. A few interesting facts may be mentioned. While Prince Edward Island
has the largest percentage Canadian born, it shows the lowest proportion of immigrants
from all countries except the United States, in which case it cedes its place at the foot of the
list to Nova Scotia. British Columbia has the highest proportion born in the British Isles,
in Latin and Greek countries and in Asia. Alberta has the highest percentage foreign born;
thia province also leads in the proportion born in the United States and in Scandinavian
and Germanic countries. Manitoba has the highest proportion of South, Eastern and Central
Europeans and also the largest proportion of Slavic birth.
The summary Table 46 yields some interesting information from still another angle.
It shows the relative importance of the foreign born of the various stocks in the population
of the respective provinces. In Prince Edward Island, out of 1-46 p.c. foreign born,
1-37 p.c. came from the United States. It. is thus seen that' the only significant immigra^
tion to Prince Edward Island was from the country to the south. In Nova Scotia out of
2-67 p.c. foreign born, one-half came from the United States and a little less than half from
Europe, and in New Brunswick, with a little less than 3 p.c. foreign born, some three-
quarters of that number reported themselves as of United States birth. Thus, in the Mari-
time Provinces, while the actual percentages of foreign born are comparatively small, the
great bulk of them came from the. Eastern States. In the Maritimes, with the exception
of Prince Edward Island, the proportion of immigrants born in the British Isles was greater
than that born in all foreign countries put together.
In Quebec, on the other hand, there was a slightly larger percentage foreign born than
born in the British Isles. Of the 4£ p.c. foreign born more than half were from Europe and
the majority of them were born in Slavic countries. Practically the whole of the balance
came from the United States. '
In Ontario the proportion of British bom immigrants is two and a half times as great
as the foreign born, Ontario being unique in this respect. Of the 6-21 p.c. foreign born,
over half were from Europe and 2-4'l p.c. from the United States. Of the Continental
Europeans the majority came from South, Eastern and Central countries, those born in
Slavic countries contributing the largest proportion.
As we pass westward the proportion of foreign and British born is reversed. In the
East, Quebec excepted, the British born formed a larger proportion of the population than
did the foreign born. In Manitoba the numbers born in the British Isles and in foreign
countries were approximately equal. In Saskatchewan there were twice as many foreign
born as were bom in the British Isles, and in Alberta the same tendency is marked, though
not to quite the same extent.
In Manitoba, of the 17-9 p.c. foreign born in the population, about three-quarters were
from Europe and one-quarter from the United States. In Saskatchewan, of the 26-31 p.c.
foreign bom, three-fifths were from. Europe and two-fifths from tflie United States, and in
Alberta the proportion born in the United' States was considerably larger than the number
of European birth. Thus American immigration tends to become relatively more impor-
tant in passing from East to West, the percentage of American born being largest in
Alberta. In British Columbia the relative importance of American immigration" declines
again.'
Manitoba showed three-quarters of her foreign born from European countries and it is
interesting to note the distribution of their places of birth. Those bom in South, Eastern
and Central Europe were three times as numerous as those coming from northern and
western points of the Continent, and nine-tenths of them were bom in Slavic countries.
Indeed, in Manitoba there were aHmost three times as many of Slavic birth as were born
in all Northern European countries. Of the North Western Europeans those of Scandinavian
birth were slightly in excess of those born in Germanic countries.
Saskatchewan had twice as many foreign bom as were bom in the British Isles and
considerably more than half of those were of European birth. It had a larger proportion
CANADIAN AND ELSEWHERE BORN IN THE PROVINCES
101
of North Western Europeans than had Manitoba. The South, Eastern and Central Europeans
were twice as numerous as those of North Western European birth, while in Manitoba their
numbers were 'three times as great.
In Alberta, of the foreign born, those coming from South, Eastern and Central Europe,
while much more numerous than those from the North and West, did not constitute such
an overwhelming percentage as in Manitoba or Saskatchewan. Yet there were more Slavs
than Scandinavians and more Scandinavians than Germans, just as in the other Prairie
Provinces.
Because of the large percentage of British extraction among the United States born
coming to Canada, Alberta, though showing by far the largest percentage foreign born of
all the provinces in Canada, is not so foreign in the composition of its population as the
crude figures suggest. Probably Saskatchewan and' Alberta have a much larger percentage
of immigrants of other than British origin, but the large proportion coming from the United
States should be very caTefully considered in any investigation designed to determine with
precision the percentages of immigrants of foreign stocks in the western provinces.
British Columbia, showing a slightly larger percentage of foreign born than Manitoba,
is unique in that the proportions of the foreign born are about equally divided. between
Europe, Asia and the United States. With 6-04 p.c. of European birth, 6-22 p.c. of Asiatic
birth and 6-66 p.c. born in the United States, we have in this province a different alignment
of immigration from foreign countries than that obtaining dn any other province of Canada.
Furthermore, as in Ontario, there is a far larger percentage of British born in the population
than of foreign born.
That there are great differences in the distribution of immigration between the prov-
inces must be apparent, and in so far as differences in composition make for difference in
culture in the widest sense of the term, such material as has been presented seems to merit
very careful consideration.
TABLE 47.
-PROVINCES RANKED ACCORDING TO PERCENTAGE OF POPULATION OF SPECIFIED
BIRTHPLACE IN 1921.
Rank
Canada
British
Isles
Foreign
Coun-
tries
N.W.
Europe
S.E.
and C.
Europe
Scandi-
navian
Coun-
tries
Ger-
manic
Coun-
tries
Latin,
Greek
Coin-
tries
Slavic
Coun-
tries
U.S.A.
Asiatic
Coun-
tries
1
P.E.I.
N.B.
Que.
N.S.
Ont.
Man.
Sask.
Alta. •
B.C.
B.C.
Man.
Alta.
Ont.
Sask.
Que.
N.S.
N.B.
P.E.I.
Alta.
Sask.
B.C.
Man.
Ont.
Que.
N.B.
N.S.
P.E.I.
Alta.
Sask.
Man.
B.C.
Ont.
Que.
N.S.
N.B.
P.E.I.
Man.
Sask.
Alta.
B.C.
Ont.
Que.
N.S.
N.B.
P.E.I.
Alta.
Sask.
B.C.
Man.
l
Alta.
Sask.
Man.
Ont.
B.C.
N.S.
Que.
N.B.
P.E.I.
B.C.
Sask.
Alta.
Ont.
Man.
Que.
N.S.
N.B.
P.E.I.
Man.
Sask.
Alta.
Ont.
B.C.
Que.
N.S.
N.B.
P.E.I.
Alta.
Sask.
B.C.
Man.
Ont.
N.B.
Que.
P.E.I.
N.S.
B.C.
2
Alta.
3
Sask.
4
Man.
5
Ont.
6
Que.
7
8
9
N.S.
N.B.
P.E.I.
1 Negligible.
As further illustrating these differences, Table 48 divides the immigrants resident in
each province in 1921 into two classes, namely, foreign and British born. While for the
Dominion, over one-half of those born outside Canada came from the British Empire,
slightly more than two-thirds of the immigrants to Nova Scotia were British born. In
Prince Edward Island, slightly more than half were born in foreign countries — chiefly from
the United States. The numbers of British born and foreign born were approximately equal
in New Brunswick; a slightly larger percentage of foreign born is shown in the case of
Quebec, but in Ontario nearly three-quarters of the immigrants were of British birth. In
Manitoba, as in New Brunswick, the proportions were equal. On the other hand, two-
thirds of the immigrants in Saskatchewan and Alberta were born in foreign countries and
only one-third were of British birth. In British Columbia the percentages of Saskatchewan
and Alberta are reversed; almost two-thirds of all immigrants were British born. Thus,
immigration to British Columbia, Ontario and Nova Scotia showed the largest proportions
British born, and that going to Saskatchewan and Alberta the largest proportions foreign
born.
102 PROVINCIAL DISTRIBUTION OF STOCKS AND NATIVITY GROUPS
TABLE 48— PERCENTAGES OF FOREIGN BORN AND BRITISH BORN AMONG THE IMMIGRANT
POPULATION, BY PROVINCES, 1921.
Province
P.O.
Foreign
born
P.c.
British
born
45-52
54-59
32-15
50-09
52-35
28-38
49-13
66-51
63-64
38-30
62-30
54-48
45-41
67-85
49-91
47-65
71-62
50-87
33-49
36-36
61-70
37-70
THE EXTENT TO WHICH EACH PROVINCE HAS SHARED IN THE TOTAL
IMMIGRATION
Hitherto our discussion has centred on the proportion of the foreign stocks among the
population in each province, and more particularly of the foreign born portions of specified
stocks. It is interesting further to see how the provinces have been sharing in the actual
number of immigrants coming to Canada. Table 49 presents this material for British
and foreign born.
Of the total, Ontario has received the largest percentage of the British immigrants
resident in Canada at the date of the census — over 40 p.c; British Columbia came second
with 15 p.c. and the Prairie Provinces have received about 10 p.c. for each province. Ontario
has resident within her boundaries as many imimigrants from the British Isles as the whole
of the West. Quebec, with 8.4 p.c, is the only other eastern province which has received
any considerable number of British immigrants.
The table further shows definite grounds for the current opinion as to the very small
percentage of British immigrants stopping in the Maritime Provinces. That this holds
true also for the foreign immigrants is shown in the lower section of the table.
It' is of considerable significance that as regards foreign born, one of the western
provinces leads in the percentage of total foreign-born residents in 1921, .Saskatchewan
having 22.4 p.c. of all the foreign born residents of Canada. While in the case of the
British born Ontario showed almost as many in actual numbers as the entire West, the
four western provinces combined have three times as many foreign born residents as
Ontario. Thus in this generation an overwhelming majority of the immigrants of foreign
stocks have gone West. The result has been to make the composition of itihe population
in the eastern and western parts of Canada entirely different, and it is reasonable to suppose
that the cultural, educational and political consequences will be more marked as this move-
ment proceeds.
TABLE 49.-PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF BRITISH BORN AND FOREIGN BORN IMMIGRANTS
BY YEAR OF ARRIVAL IN CANADA, FOR THE NINE PROVINCES, 1921.
(A) Pebcentage Distribution op British Immigrants by Year of Arrival in Canada.
Province
Total
1919-
June
1921
1915-
1918
1911-
1914
1900-
1910
Before
1900
Year
not
stated
100-0
0-1
2-8
1-0
8-4
431
10-6
9-4
9-3
151
0-1
100-0
0-1
3-5
1-2
7-9
45-7
9-9
8-8
9-7
131
100-0
01
7-4
2-0
12-2
39-2
8-4
10-2
9-4
11-1
100-0
1-9
0-7
8-4
43-5
10-9
9-4
10-2
14-9
100-0
' 2-4
0-7
7-6
37-8
11-8
11-5
110
17-1
1000
0-3
3-2
1-6
8-9
52-2
9-1
5-7
4-8
14-2
100-0
0-4
17-9
101
3-4
NUMBER OF IMMIGRANTS IN EACH PROVINCE
103
(B) Percentage Distribution of Foreign Immigrants by Year op Arrival in Canada.
Province
Total
1919-
June
1921
1915-
1918
1911-
1914
1900-
1910
Before
1900
Year
not
stated
100-0
01
1-6
1-2
11-1
20-5
12-3
22-4
19-5
11-2
0-1
100-0
0-3
2-1
1-9
12-7
30-1
8-2
13-7
18-9
12-1
1000
0-3
2-0
1-8
10-6
19-5
6-8
20-3
25-9
12-8
100-0
01
1-7
0-9
10-4
22-5
11-5
24-0
19-2
9-7
100-0
0-1
1-2
0-8
9-9
15-4
13-5
26-9
21-9
10-3
100-0
0-2
1-8
1-9
13-3
24-8
16-2
15-0
11-7
151
100-0
0-5
2-4
3-5
24-3
25-4
6-9
11-4
10-9
8-2
6-4
NUMBER OF IMMIGRANTS EN EACH PROVINCE
Before dosing this chapter reference should be made to the numerical distribution of the
foTeign born for a few of the important countries from which Canada draws her immi-
grants. This- is done in Table 50. Little comment is necessary in this connection, for the
facts are presented very clearly in the table. However, a few points are worthy of special
notice. Of the foreign born in Canada, more have come from the United States than from
any other single country, and of those Alberta has received by far the most, with
Saskatchewan coming second and Ontario third.
Russia has contributed to this country the second largest number of immigrants, and
the province of Saskatchewan has received more of these than has any other province.
Ontario, Quebec and Manitoba have received about the same numbers each, and about
one-third less than Saskatchewan.
Those of Austrian birth are concentrated in .the two provinces of Manitoba and
Saskatchewan in albout equal numbers, each of these provinces having almost twice as
many Austrian born as Alberta or Ontario.
It is rather surprising to find that those of Chinese birth stand fourth in numbers
among the foreign born in Canada. As has been pointed out, the great bulk of them are
in British Columbia.
The province of Ontario has almost as many Italians as the rest of Canada put together.
While the largest numbers of Russians, Austrians and Galicians are either in Manitoba
or Saskatchewan, the largest number of Poles is in Ontario. Ontario has twice as many
Poles as any other province.
The Swedes rank eighth among the foreign born. Of all the provinces, Saskatchewan
has the largest number. . Alberta comes second and Manitoba third, with about half as
many as the province of Saskatchewan.
Finally, the largest number of German immigrants is found in the province of Ontario,
with Saskatchewan in second place.
TABLE 50— NUMBER OF FOREIGN BORN FROM NINE MAIN COUNTRIES OF BIRTH,
PROVINCES, 1921.
BY
Country of birth
Canada
Prince
Edward
Island
Nova
Scotia
New
Bruns-
wick
Quebec
Ontario
Mani-
toba
Saskat-
chewan
Alberta
British
Colum-
bia
374,024
101,055
57,535
36,924
36,025
35,531
29,279
27, 700
25,266
1,215
6
2
12
4
2
2
2
7,016
1,129
375
317
92
801
593
115
388
8,268
525
77
177
8
191
73
' 137
112
42,124
18,282
3,052
2,186
594
7,906
2,735
455
972
70, 729
19,776
8,045
5,394
3,760
17,918
13,023
3.302
8,962
21,644
17,082
17,529
1,279
14,656
979
5,705
3.948
2,227
87,617
28,315
17,040
2,613
9,686
383
3,303
7,381
6,409
99,879
11,572
9,981
3,422
6,807
2,486
2,959
6,535
4,606
34,926
4,354
1,415
21,523
422
Italy
4,847
Poland
874
5,735
1,537
CHAPTER V
THE URBAN AND RURAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE POPULATION
OF VARIOUS STOCKS IN CANADA
It is important in studying assimilation to know which stocks tend to concentrate in
rural districts and those which congregate in urban parts. The influences of rural and
urban surroundings are in many respects quite different, and a study of the rural and
, urban distribution of the various stocks and of the foreign born, will be seen to throw
■considerable -light on such questions as intermarriage, literacy, naturalization, infant mortal-
ity and many others.
Certain outstanding questions present themselves in this connection. First, what
peoples concentrate in urban districts and to what extent? Which stocks tend to congregate
in large cities? How do the stocks differ in their rural and urban distribution as between
provinces? Are the men or women more urban and why? To the above questions, and
to some others, this chapter suggests answers.
It might foe mentioned in passing that there are two extreme conditions respecting
urban and rural distribution very unfavourable to the assimilation of the foreigner. First,
rural isolation, and secondly, the tendency too often observed in large cities, for particular
•stocks to segregate in separate wards or districts. Consequently, in relating the material in
this section to the aspects of the assimilation problem discussed in the latter part of this
report, both of the above points should be kept clearly in mind.
In order to avoid a confusing multiplicity of figures attention is centred on the per-
centage urban throughout this section. A high percentage urban for a given stock naturally
implies a correspondingly low percentage in rural districts and vice versa. Such inferences as
a rule are left to the reader. The distinction between rural and urban is that followed
by the census ; " urban " includes those living in all incorporated cities, towns and villages,
while the balance of the population is tabulated as " rural ".
PERCENTAGE OF URBAN RESIDENTS AMONG THE IMMIGRANT POPULATION
FOR CANADA AND THE PROVINCES
Table 51 gives the percentage urban of the immigrant population by countries of
•birth for Canada and for each .province. Tables 52 and 53 group the European born
other' than British and French into geographical and linguistic classes, showing the percent-
age urban for the total population in each group. Finally, Table 54 presents a summary
for specified groups of origins.
Beginning with Canada as a whole, it is to be remembered that during the past three
or four decades there has been a radical shifting in the distribution of the population as
between urban and rural districts. Table 19 in Volume I of the Census shows that while
in 1891 only 31.80 p.c. of the population was urban, by 1921 just under 50 p.c. lived in
incorporated cities, towns and villages. The change has been continuous throughout the
period. In this shifting of the population from rural to urban districts Canada is by no
means unique. The same change has characterized virtually all western nations to a greater
or less degree during the past century.
In Table 51, column 1, the foreign born in Canada appear with a lower percentage
urban than the population as a whole. Of the total population 49.52 p.c. were classed as
resident in urban districts in 1921 and of the foreign born only 45.68 p.c. Of all foreign
groups, the Asiatics show the most marked propensities for urban life. Some 65.50 p.c. of
those immigrants lived in urban districts. It is perhaps surprising to find the immigrants
104
PERCENTAGE OF URBAN RESIDENTS IN IMMIGRANT POPULATION 105
from the British Isles, with 64.88 p.o. urban, standing second only to the Asiatics in this
respect. That British immigration up to date has been directed in such large proportions
to our cities and towns is of marked significance.
In contrast with the Asiatics and also with those born in the British Isles, immigrants
from Europe are less urban than the .population as a whole, while those from the United
States show a smaller proportion urban than the Europeans. In both cases the percentages
urban are considerably below that for the total population, and if comparisons be made
between immigrants from the British Isles, and from Europe and the United States, respect-
ively, there is a difference of between 19 and1 22 p.c. in the proportions urban. Obviously,
Continental Europeans, as well as United States immigrants, include a larger proportion
of agriculturists, while among the British large numbers follow commercial, manufacturing
and professional pursuits.
Table 52 gives the percentages urban for the European born, by geographical grouping
of countries of birth. North Western Europeans are considerably less urban than those from
South, Eastern and Central Europe. The percentage urban in the former case is 34.50,
while for the latter group it is 50-12. These figures suggest a very real difference between
the people who come from these two sections of the continent, and because of the differing
conditions of life in urban and rural districts, it is only to be expected that such a marked
difference in territorial distribution would be reflected in the type and extent of the adjust-
ments which the foreign born have made and are making to their new Canadian home.
TABLE 51— PERCENTAGE URBAN OF IMMIGRANT POPULATION, BY COUNTRY OF BIRTH, FOR
. CANADA AND THE PROVINCES, 1921.
Conntry of Birth
Canada
P.O.
Prince
Edward
Island
Nova
Scotia
New
Biuns-
wick
Quebec
p.c.
Ontario
p.c.
Manitoba
p.c.
Saskat-
chewan
Alberta
p.c.
Urban
p.c.
Urban
Urban
p.c.
Urban
Urban
Urban
Urban
Urban
Urban
49-52
21-55
43-34
32-08
56-01
58-17
42-88
28-90
37-88
45-68
25-33
63-56
42-64
84-70
72-09
42-16
21-48
25-81
64-88
37-80
67-83
51-96
91-27
73-32
58-81
43-02
55-56
76-22
53 02
86-62
72-43
93-37
82-51
68-44
45-70
55-39
45-75
63-89
78-42
51-55
93-32
71-04
40-66
18-49
22-91
35-33
500
75-20
53-25
94-46
60-97
31-78
21-86
23-61
40-64
■ -
77-87
13-04
87-74
24-06
32-81
14-75
29-90
52-83
-
95-65
45-45
88-68
59-21
90-00
11-59
32-08
41-42
-
42-69
20-00
77-27
85-30
51-25
16-72
32-19
31-49
100-0
71-43
23-08
82-24
57-11
35-24
18-42
19-64
33-31
-
62-50
52-38
31 15
41-01
19-12
6-75
10-21
52-37
37-50
68-67
25-14
82-73
68-87
27-35
18-03
34-77
24-39
-
89-13
87-50
92-26
68-94
26-15
9-72
10-84
37-24
-
56-44
26-79
77-06
52-27
39-65
19-86
20-63
89-33
100-0
97-59
95-24
99-10
89-66
93-23
89-14
78-80
40-90
-
62-74
68-75
91-40
61-53
36-18
25-41
30-14
37-50
-
80-68
-
96-89
66-90
63-19
24-80
32-61
37-57
-
100-00
-
100-00
65-69
40-74
23-61
34-85
75-81
75-0
80-90
25-13
94-08
79-36
86-01
31-85
42-44
49-69
-
97-92
25-00
93-33
58-64
77-33
42-41
3511
21-86
-
69-66
41-33
87-28
65-89
31-20
12-01
15-51
67-30
100-0
83-98
89-04
93-67
86-06
57-69
23-28
29-27
51 12
100-0
94-39
78-00
97-28
80-07
49-16
16-07
18-45
56-25
100-0
92-29
91-24
97-46
86-82
58-66
20-53
30-38
24-60
50-0
51-30
35-04
87-03
44-94
33-61
12-63
15-38
44-64
-
71-43
75-00
85-88
64-15
38-83
18-87
27-33
41-85
-
100-00
50-00
96-90
83-20
37-92
25-72
13-63
66-75
-
82-65
57-50
94-01
82-26
49-82
15-89
21-30
65-50
88-57
90-96
84-90
96-45
92-57
85-60
87-54
74-44
71-66
-
98-11
94-92
99-04
94-77
86-94
93-99
79-05
38-16
-
83-33
100-00
92-00
77-55
88-10
77-32
36-90
85-02
-
87-38
74-18
93-76
90-50
74-17
26-87
57-80
84-54
-
77-78
100-00
89-34
88-72
80-77
52-17
85-19
75-32
-
50 00
-
89-10
78-44
73-08
62-00
50-00
42-63
22-22
47-73
38-24
72-93
71-46
44-99
22-89
25-88
British
Columbia
p.o.
Urban
Total population
Total foreign born. . .
British Isles
British Possessions.
Europe
Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
' Czechoslovakia. . .
Denmark
Finland
France
Galicia
Germany
Greece
Holland
Hungary
Iceland
Italy
Jugo-Slavia
Norway
Poland....
Roumonia
Russia
Sweden
Switzerland
Ukraine
Others
Asia
China
Japan
Syria
Turkey
Other
United States
47-19
43-88
50-99
49-29
36-15
39-51
45-57
26-47
25-81
39-66
29-74
46-29
28-20
38-84
67-70
37-28
52-91
39-81
52-73
37-85
33-58
49-66
34-97
22-37
26-89
33-13
23-71
42-01
50-82
57-70
36-98
77-57
70-37
50-00
44-44
106
URBAN AND RURAL DISTRIBUTION OF VARIOUS STOCKS
TABLE 52 — PERCENTAGE URBAN OF CONTINENTAL EUROPEAN BORN, FOR CANADA AND THE
PROVINCES, BY GEOGRAPHICAL GROUPING OF COUNTRIES OF BIRTH, 1921.
Country of birth
Canada
P.O.
urban
Prince
Edward
Island
P.O.
urban
Nova
Scotia
p.c.
urban
New
Bruns-
wick
p.c.
urban
Quebec
p.c.
urban
Ontario
p.c.
urban
Manitoba
p.c.
urban
Saskat-
chewan
p.c.
urban
Alberta
p.c.
urban
British
Columbia
p.c.
urban
North Western European-
40-64
31-49
52-37
37-24
40-90
37-57
21-86
24-60
44-64
100 00
37-50
50-00
77-87
71-43
68-67
56-44
62-74
100-00
69-66
51-30
71-43
13 04
23-08
2514
26-79
68-75
41-33
35-04
75-00
87-74
82-24
82-73
77-06
91-40
100-00
87-28
87-03
85-88
24-06
57-11
68-87
52-27
61-53
65-69
55-89
44-94
64-15
32-81 '
35-24
■ 27-35
39-65
36-18
40-74
31-20
33-61
38-83
14-75
18-42
18-03
19-86
25-41
23-61
1201
12-63
18-87
29-20
19-64
34-77
20-63
30-14
34-85
15-51
15-38
27-33
45-67
39-66
46-29
38-84
Holland
37-28
39-81
33-58
26-89
33-13
Total
34-50
i
68-04
28-94
84-31
51-25
34-99
15-75
20-63
33-98
South, Eastern and Central
European —
35-33
52-83
41-42
33-31
24-39
89-33
37-50
75-81
49-69
67-30
51-12
56-25
41-85
50-00
100-00
75 00
100-00
100-00
100-00
1
75-20
95-65
42-69
62-50
89-13
97-59
80-68
80-90
97-92
83-98
94-39
92-29
100-00
53-25
45-45
20-00
62-38
87-50
95-24
25-13
25-00
89-04
78-00
91-24
50-00
94-46
88-68
77-27
31-15
92-26
99-10
96-89
94-08
93-33
93-67
97-28
97-46
96-90
60-97
59-21
85-30
41-01
66-94
89-66
66-90
79-36
58-64
86-06
80-07
86-82
83-20
31-78
90-00
51-25.
19-12
26- 15
93-23
63-19
86-01
77-33
57-69
49-16
58-66
37-92
21-86
11-59
16-72
6-75
9-72
89-14
24-80
31-85
42-41
'23-28
1607
20-53
25-72
23-61
32-08
32-19
10-21
10-84
78-80
32-61
42-44
3511
29-27
18-45
30-38
13-63
39-51
26-47
25-81
29-74
28-20
67-70
52-91
Italy
52-73
37-85
Poland
49-66
34-97
22-37
23-71
Total
50-12
-
84-40
72-63
95-98
76-06
42-47
19-69
24-36
3809
1 Numbers too small for percentages to be significant.
When the foreign bora are classed in linguistic groups (Table 53, p. 108) , the Scandina-
vians are found to be the least urban of all. The German group, with a percentage of only
38-74 living in urban districts, ranks second, but there is a considerable difference between
the percentages for these two groups, the figure for the Scandinavians being only 25*75 p.c.
Of the Slavs and the Latins and Greeks, on the other hand, much larger percentages live
in incorporated cities, towns and villages. The percentage for the former is 46-88 and for
the Latins and Greeks 63-97 p.c. — just a fraction under the percentage urban for the immi-
grants from the British Isles. Among the Continental Europeans, the Scandinavians are
by far the most rural and the Latins and Greeks by far the most unban. Just two and
one-half times as large a proportion of the Latin and Greek immigrants live in urban
communities as of the Scandinavians.
Turning now to a more detailed examination, attention is called to the peculiarities of the
populations of the specified birthplaces. Of the North Western Europeans, immigrants
from France and Switzerland are the most urban; the Belgians and the Dutch follow with
between 40 and 41 p.c; the Germans and Icelanders are still less urban. The most rural
of the immigrants from the northwest of Europe are the Swedes and Norwegians. Indeed,
of all stocks the Norwegians and Swedes show the largest percentages living ' in rural
districts.
Of the immigrants from South, Eastern and Central Europe, the percentage urban of
the Greeks is most marked; in fact, of all immigrant peoples coming to Canada, the Greeks
show the most marked tendency to concentrate in urban districts. The Italians also show
a very high figure of urbanization, with something over 75 p.c. of Italian immigrants living
in incorporated cities, towns and villages. These two are in a class by themselves, in
comparison with the other South, Eastern and Central Europeans. Passing from the south
to the east of Europe we find that the Poles are a very unban people, that the Russians
show a proportion 7 p.c. higher than the percentage urban for the total population, and that
the figure for Roumanians and Bulgarians is also slightly above the average for the whole
of Canada. The least urban of all South, Eastern and Central Europeans are those born in
URBAN RESIDENTS AMONG THE IMMIGRANT POPULATION 107
Galicia, with a percentage practically equal to that for the Swedes. The Finns, Austrians
and Hungarians, with percentages ranging between 35 and 40 p.c, are also considerably less
urban than the average for the group, or for the population as a whole. The proportions
for the balance of the South, Eastern and Central European group are between 40 p.c.
and 50 p.c. urban.
It is difficult, therefore, to speak of the urban distribution of the South, Eastern and
Central Europeans as, a group because of the great variation in the extent to which
immigrants from the respective countries in that section of Europe exhibit a predisposition
to urban life. While on the average the South, Eastern and Central Europeans are much
more urban than immigrants from North Western Europe, settlers from such countries as
Galicia, Finland and Austria show appreciably smaller percentages of urban domicile in
Canada than does the total North Western European group.
However, in turning to certain linguistic groupings (Table 53) less variation appears,
which seems to suggest that the tendency to urban Life is associated with peculiarities of
cultural rather than geographical origin. The Scandinavian immigrants show a more or less
uniformly low percentage urban. While the figure for the Icelanders is somewhat higher
than the average, on the whole the immigrants from Iceland have been longer in Canada
than those from any other European country, and the tendency to move cityward, which
increases with residence on this side of the ocean, should be more marked in their case. It
is impossible with the data at hand to trace the movement of the Icelandic population within
the country, but the comparatively small immigration from Iceland since the beginning of the
century would favour the cityward movement of the oIder_ settlers being reflected in the
percentage of the urban to the total population in 1921.
Among the Germanic peoples the uniformity in the proportions of the immigrants urban
and rural is very marked; The percentage of urban for the group is higher than that for the
Scandinavians, and with the exception of very minor overlapping as between the Germans
and Icelanders, the percentage for every element in the Germanic group is higher than the
highest in the Scandinavian.
Among the Latins and Greeks, however, no such uniformity is discernible. The lowest
percentage urban an that group is 10 points higher than the highest in the Germanic group,
but the figures for the Greeks and Italians are far above those for the French and Rouman-
ians. As a group the Latins and Greeks clearly tend toward urban life, but within the
group itself the decided aversion to rural life displayed by immigrants from Greece and
Italy places them in a class by tihemselves.
What has been said as to lack of uniformity among the Latins and Greeks in respect
of percentages living in urban districts, may be reiterated of the Slavic peoples. They
differ radically in concentration in urban districts. The Galician immigrants, with less
than a quarter of theim living in incorporated cities, towns and villages in Canada, may be
contrasted with the Poles, who have over two-thirds of their numbers living in urban
communities. Such differences are difficult to explain. The Poles and Russians show the
highest percentages of urban immigrants, and from those two countries a very large pro-
portion of our Jewish immigrants come. As will be shown later, of all origins in Canada,
the Jews show by far the highest percentage in our largest cities, and with a considerable
proportion of immigrants from those two countries of Jewish extraction it is not surprising
that the percentage urban among those born in Poland and Russia should be somewhat
higher than for the other Slavic countries. Just how far this accounts for the differences
cannot be ascertained, and just what other forces and influences are at work to bring about
the remarkable variation in percentages, can only be discovered and evaluated after careful
study. It is questionable, however, whether the proportion of Polish Jews among the immi-
grants of Polish birth is large enough to account for the extremely high percentage of urban
residents shown by that group.
108
URBAN AND RURAL DISTRIBUTION OF VARIOUS STOCKS
TABLE 53— PERCENTAGE URBAN OF CONTINENTAL EUROPEAN BORN, FOR CANADA AND THE
PROVINCES, BY LINGUISTIC GROUPING OF COUNTRIES OF BIRTH, 1921.
Country of birth
Canada
p.c.
urban
Prince
Edward
Island
p.c.
urban
Nova
Scotia
p.c.
urban
New
Bruns-
wick
p.c.
urban
Quebec
p.c.
urban
Ontario
p.c.
urban
Manito ba
p.c.
urban
Saskat-
chewan
p.c.
urban
Alberta
p.c.
urban
British
Columbia
p.c.
urban
Scandinavian —
31-49
3757
21-86
24-60
100-00
50-00
71-43
100-00
69-66
51-30
23-08
41-33
35-04
82-24
100-00
87-28
87-03
57-11
65-69
55-89
44-94
35-24
40-74
. 31-20
33-61
18-42
23-61
12-01
12-63
19-64
34-85
15-51
15-38
39-66
39-81
33-58
26-89
Total
25-75
i
62-90
31-42
90-05
50-00
36-46
13-55
16-36
30-68
Germanic — *
40-64
37-24
40-90
-
77-87
56-44
62-74
13-04
26-79
68-75
87-74
77-06
91-40
24-06
52-27
61-53
32-81
39-65
36-18
14-75
19-8J
25-41
29-20
20-63
30 14
45-57
. 38-84
Holland
37-28
Total
.38-74
-
68-90
25-87
85-26
47-91
35-68
19-28
24-62
40-43
Latin and Greek —
52-37
89-33
75-81
51-12
37-50
100-00
100-00
68-67
97-59
80-90
94-39
■ 25-14
95-24
25 13
78-00
82-73
99-10
94-08
97-28
68-87
89-66
79-36
80-07
27-35
93-23
86-01
4916
18-03
89-14
31-85
16-07
34-77
78-80
42-44
18-45
46-29
67-70
Italy
52-73
34-97
Total
63-97
i
76-86
37-23
91-77
79-14
■ 45-84
18-63
32-06
51-72
Slavic —
35-33
52-83
41-42
24-39
49-69
41-85
67-30
56-25
50-00
l
100-00
100-00
75-20
95-65
42-69
89-13
97-92
100-00
83-98
92-29
53-25
45-45
20 00
87-50
25-00
50 00
89 04
91-24
94-46
88-68
77-27
92-26
93-33
96-90
93-67
97-46
60-97
59-21
85-30
66-94
58-64
83-20
86-06
86-82
31-78
90-00
51-25
26-15
77-33
37-92
57-69
58-66
21-86
11-59
16-72
9-72
42-41
25-72
23-28
20-53
23-61
32-08
32-19
10-84
3511
13-63
29-27
30-38
39-51
26-47
25-81
28-20
37-85
23-71
Poland
49-66
22-37
Total
46-88
-
84-92
84-50
96-47
79-88
41-31
19-57
23-60
29-55
1 Numbers too small for percentages to be significant.
RURAL AND URBAN DISTRIBUTION AS BETWEEN PROVINCES
Of all provinces in the Dominion, Prince Edward Island shows the largest percentage
rural and Ontario shows the largest proportion living in urban districts. The -provinces with
their respective percentages urban are aranged in order of rank below: —
Province P.c. urban Rank
Ontario 5817 1
Quebec 5601 2
British Columbia 47-19 3
NovaScotia 43-34 , 4
Manitoba 42-88 5
Alberta 37-88 6
New Brunswick 32-08 7
Saskatchewan : 28-90 8
Prince Edward Island 21-55 9
While the population of Ontario ranks first in respect to concentration in urban localities,
that of Quebec comes a close second. It is interesting to see that British Columbia in the
extreme West ranks third in the Dominion. Among the Prairie ■ Provinces, Manitoba is the
most urban and Saskatchewan the most rural. In the Maritimes, Nova Scotia has the
largest proportion of its population domiciled in incorporated cities, towns and villages.
Turning to the distribution of the total foreign born as between rural and urban dis-
tricts in the various provinces, one discovers that in the five Eastern provinces they are
more urban and in the four Western provinces less urban than the population as a whole.
In the more urban provinces the foreign born are more urban than the (population as a
whole; in the rural provinces of Western Canada they are more rural than the population
URBAN RESIDENTS AMONG THE FOREIGN BORN IN THE PROVINCES 109
as a whole. The provinces may be arranged in order of the percentages of foreign born
living in urban districts as below: —
P.c. of total
foreign born
resident
Province in urban Rank
communities
Quebec 84-70 1
Ontario 72-09 2 ,
Nova Scotia 63-56 3
British Columbia 43-88 4
Now Brunswick 42-64 5
Manitoba : 42-16 6
Alberta 25-81 7
Prince Edward Island .* 25-33 8
Saskatchewan 21-48 9
A comparison of the above table with that for the population as a whole will reveal
the fact that the relative positions of the various provinces are somewhat changed. Quebec,
Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island have moved up and Ontario,
British 'Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba have moved down. These changes
may probably be partially explained in the light of the discussion in Chapter IV, which
emphasized the different population structures of the various provinces, and also by
occupational differences between the Canadian and foreign born sections of the populations.
For example, it was shown that in New Bruinswick nearly 80 p.c. of the foreign born were
from the United States. These were largely immigrants of French origin who took up other
than agricultural occupations. This fact probably accounts for the change in New Bruns-
wick's position. As opposed to New Brunswick the provinces of AOberta and Saskatchewan
moved down. It is recalled that in these provinces there was a much larger percentage of
immigrants from Scandinavian countries than in any other province in Canada. As a group
the Scandinavians are the least urban and in Alberta and Saskatchewan they are almost
exclusively engaged in agricultural occupations. These two examples are given merely to
suggest the method of approaching the study of this phenomenon.
Attention is called also to the magnitude of the differences between the percentages
urban for the foreign born and for the total population in the various provinces. Were the
foreign born contrasted with the Canadian born the differences would be greater than
appear above. HoweveT, in certain cases the spread shown in the tables is quite significant.
Quebec leads, with the foreign born showing a 28 p.c. higher figure in urban districts than
that for the population as a whole. Immigrants going to the province of Quebec obviously
concentrate to a very marked degree in the cities and towns. The spread for that province
is twice as great as for Ontario, which shows a difference of 14 p.c. between the percentage
of the foreign born who reside in urban districts and trie percentage of the total population
urban. The number of immigrants in Prince Fxlward Island is so small that the difference
of 3 p.c. for that province is not representative. In the other Maritime Provinces the
spread is much greater, in Nova Scotia a 20 p.c. larger proportion of the foreign born being
urban and in New Brunswick a difference of over 10 p.c. occurring. With the exception of
Alberta, the contrast between the behaviour of the total population and the foreign born in
the West is not nearly so marked as in the eastern provinces. The figures for Saskatchewan
show the widest variation, namely, 8 p.c, which is lower than the spread for any of the
eastern provinces except Prince Edward Island.
One must not immediately conclude, however, that the difference in the percentages
urban for the foreign born and for the .population as a whole, is a direct index of differences
between the foreign born and the native born. Separate figures are not available for the
native or Canadian born, and consequently the percentages for the total population include
not only the Candaian born but also the foreign and the British born. In the West, the
percentage of foreign birth in the population is much greater than in the East, so that the
figure giving the proportion urban for the total population in the Prairie Provinces is
reduced considerably by the large proportion of .foreign born within the borders of those
provinces. In the East, on the other hand, with much smaller percentages foreign bom, the
proportions living in urban districts, as given for the total, populations in the various prov-
inces, would not be so radically different from the percentages for the Canadian born alone,
110 URBAN AND RURAL DISTRIBUTION OF VARIOUS STOCKS
were they classed separately. While such considerations minimize to some extent the dis-
tinction between the East and West in this regard, it is probable that. they are not adequate
to account for the whole difference, and that other important forces aTe at work.
The immigrants from the British Isles are more urban than the foreign born in every
province in Canada. Reference has already been made to the -urban propensities of immi-
grants from the British Isles. The difference is most marked in the provinces of Alberta
and Saskatchewan. In Alberta immigrants from the British Isles show a 30 p.c. higher pro-
portion in urban districts than immigrants from foreign countries, and in Saskatchewan a
proportion 22 p.c. higher. In Manitoba the difference :s not so marked, amounting. to only
17 p.c, and in the East the- spread is, on the whole, very much smaller than in the West.
The significant fact seems to be that in Canada as a whole immigration from Great Britain
has become directed toward urban centres to a much more marked degree than immigra-
tion from foreign countries in general and that this tendency, while absolutely less marked
in the West than in the East, is relatively more pronounced, when compared with the
small, percentages of both the foreign born and of the population as a whole in urban dis-
tricts. In Saskatchewan foreign immigrants are slightly less urban than the population as
a whole, while the British born show proportions in incorporated cities, towns and villages
1 nearly 50 p.c. larger.
A few other striking facts are revealed when the analysis is pushed still further The
percentage urban of those immigrants coming from the_ South, Bast and Central sections of
the Continent is greater 'for every province than the proportions urban for immigrants from
the countries of North Western Europe. In Nova Scotia and Quebec immigrants from
both parts of the Continent are more urban than the population as a whole. In New
Brunswick and Ontario, while the South, Eastern and Central Europeans are very much
more urban- than the total population, those from the north and western part of Europe
are decidedly less urban. In Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia
immigrants from both sections of Europe show a greater inclination to live on. rural districts
than the total population resident in those provinces. These facts are very significant.
From Ontario east, -the South, Eastern and Central Europeans are concentrating to am
abnormally marked extent an the cities, while from . Manitoba west they are settling- to an
equally marked extent in the Tural parts. The same applies to the North Western ■ Euro-
peans except in the case of the province of New Brunswick, where they are more rural
than in the province of Manitoba.
Passing to the linguistic groups, similar differences are noted between the proportion
living in urban and rural districts in the various provinces. The high percentage of 90-05
p.c. urban for the Scandinavian group in the province of Quebec represents a very small
.number of resident Scandinavians and is not at all typical of the group. In fact, figures of
Scandinavians for provinces east of Manitoba should not be considered of great importance
because of the exceptionally small percentage of Scandinavians resident in these eastern
provinces. In the West, Manitoba shows the largest proportion of Scandinavians in urban
centres and Saskatchewan shows the smallest. In all parts of the West the percentage urban
is much lower for the Scandinavians than that for the total population.
Greater importance may be attributed to the fluctuation of the percentages urban for
the Germanic group because of their more even distribution throughout the country. In
the two cases of Nova Scotia and Quebec, where the percentages urban exceed the propor-
tions for the total population, the numbers are comparatively small, but in all other cases
and notably in those provinces where they form larger proportions of the total population,
the Germanic people are resident in urban districts to a much smaller extent than the total
population.
Of all Europeans the Latins and Greeks are the most urban, and in all but two provinces
of the Dominion their percentage urban is much higher than that for the population as a
whole. Those provinces are Saskatchewan and Alberta, and the explanation is simple when
the actual numbers are considered. In Saskatchewan in 1921 there were 221 immigrants
born in Greece, 383 in Italy, and 7,324 immigrants from Roumania. Somewhat the same
proportions obtain in Alberta. Now the Roumanians are a much more rural people than
URBAN AND RURAL DISTRIBUTION BY SEX
111
the Italians and Greeks, and with Roumanian immigrants constituting so preponderating a
proportion of the total immigrants from Latin and Greek countries in those provinces, it is
natural to expect that the figure showing the percentage urban for the Latin and Greek
group (including the Roumanians) would be exceptionally low. It is very probable that
immigrants from Italy and Greece show just as marked a tendency to concentrate in the
cities in Saskatchewan and Alberta as in other parts of the Dominion.
The Slavic group is similar to the Scandinavian. In the East immigrants from those
countries show an undue concentration in urban parts, while in the west they are more
rural than the population as a whole. Immigrants from Asia show larger percentages urban
than other classes of immigrants in every province of the Dominion except British Column
bia, where the Greeks are slightly more urban than the Asiatics. Occupational differences
largely account for the differences in urban and rural domicile obtaining among the Asiatics
in the various provinces.
Finally, United States born immigrants coming to Canada, while displaying less disposi-
tion to live in urban ' districts than the total population of Canada, in all provinces from
Manitoba east show a greater concentration in incorporated cities, towns and villages
than is evidenced among'the population as a whole. From Saskatchewan west immigration
from the United States has been directed to rural areas to an unusually marked extent.
TABLE 54.-SUMMARY SHOWING PERCENTAGE URBAN OF IMMIGRANT POPULATION FOR CANADA
AND THE PROVINCES, BY SPECIFIED GROUPING OF COUNTRIES OF BIRTH, 1921.
Country of Birth
Total population
Total foreign born
British Isles
Europe
Total North Western Europe. .
Total South, Eastern and Cen-
tral Europe
Scandinavian Countrie3. .■
Germanic Countries
Latin and Greek Countries
Slavic Countries
Asia :
United States
Canada
p.c.
urban
49-52
45-68
64-88
45-75
34-50
5012
25-75
38-74
63-97
46-88
65-50
42-63
P.E.I.
p.c,
urban
21-55
25-33
37-80
63-89
88-57
.22-22
Nova
Scotia
p.c.
urban
43-34
63-56
67-83
78-42
68-04
84-40
62-90
68-90
76-80
84-92
90-96
47-73
New
Bruns-
wick
p.c.
urban
32-08
42-64
51-96
51-55
28-94
72-63
31-42
25-87
37-23
84-50
84-90
38-24
Quebec
p.c.
urban
56-01
84-70
91-27
93-32
84-31
95-98
90-05
85-26
91-77
96-47
96-45
72-93
Ontario
p.o.'
urban
58-17
72-09
73-32
71-04
51-25
76-06
50 00
47-91
79-14
79-88
92-57
71-46
Mani-
toba
p.c.
urban
42-88
42-16
58-81
40-66
34-99
42-47
36-46
35-68
45-84
41-31
85-60
44-99
Saskat-
chewan
p.c.
urban
28-90
21-48
43-02
18-49
15-75
19-69
13-55
19-28
18-63
19-57
87-54
22-89
Alberta
p.c.
urban
37-88
25-81
55-56
22-91
20-63
24-36
16-36
24-62
32-06
23-60
74-44
25-88
British
Columbia
p.c.
urban
47-19
43-88
50-99
3615
38-09
30-68
40-43
51-72
29-55
50-82
44-44
1 Numbers too small for percentage to be significant.
URBAN AND RURAL DISTRIBUTION BY SEX
Table 55 is presented for the purpose of showing the difference between the percentages
of men and women living in urban districts, first, for the population as a whole and secondly,
for the respective' groups of immigrants. A cursory inspection of this table will show that
where the percentage of urban- males is large the percentage of the females is also large
and vice versa; and secondly, that- for immigrants from all but two countries the percentage
of the females in urban districts exceeds the percentage of the male's. Of those, two excep-
tions, the Bulgarians with only 1,000 population. in the whole of Canada may be dismissed
as relatively unimportant. The other exception occurs in the. case of the immigrants from
Galicia, and while their numbers are comparatively large the difference in percentage is
exceedingly small. The predominating tendency is obviously for females to concentrate in
urban communities to a considerably greater extent than males. The causes of this are
varied and it is impossible to weigh their relative importance. The following are suggested
as possible contributories: the rigours of agricultural and pioneer life; the great mobility
of immigrant males, among whom large numbers either are unmarried or have left their
families across the seas; types of occupations, railroad building and maintenance, lumbering
and mining, etc., which take men to the rural parts. From the women/s standpoint there is
greater opportunity for suitable work in urban districts. Such occupations as domestic
112 URBAN AND RURAL DISTRIBUTION OF VARIOUS STOCKS
service, restaurant work and mercantile, factory and professional pursuits of various kinds
are open to women in urban centres. Further, matrimonial opportunities and social attrac-
tions may exert considerable influence. It is obviously quite impossible to weigh the
relative importance of these forces in quantitative terms.
The explanation of the differences which occur between the several stocks in respect
to the behaviour of the men and women as to preference for urban and rural life, is even
more difficult. They cannot be explained in terms of the excess of males among the various
groups of immigrants in this country. There is a surplus of males in all groups and these
surpluses vary in size, but no correlation is apparent between the percentage urban and the
sex ratio. It is possible that some relationship might be found .between length otf residence
in Canada and the tendency for the percentage of women to exceed the proportion of men.
Reference will be made to this in connection with the figures for the United States born,
but it is improbable that length of residence in Canada is the .main explanation. It is
suggested that the basic cause will be found in vocational and in cultural differences which
are not subject to quantitative measurement. Interpretation of the table must be left to
those who have first hand knowledge of the peculiar characteristics and important voca-
tions of the various groups. A few interesting facts, however, are pointed out as to the
rank of the foreign born from countries which are more important from the point of view
of Canada's biologicaJ composition.
For the population as a whole the percentage of females living in urban districts is
4-44 p,c. greater than the proportion of males, and for all immigrants the difference is
6-05 p.c. It is apparent from these figures that immigrant women show a greater tendency
to concentrate in urban districts as compared with male immigrants than do the women in
the population as a whole as compared with the men in the total population. Figures for
the individual countries of birth are given in Table 55. Where the surplus is small, female
immigrants from a given country are found in rural parts to an unusual extent as compared
with male immigrants from the same country. Where the difference is large the women
concentrate in urban centres to a far greater extent than the men.
Immigrants from only six countries show a tendency for females to dwell in urban dis-
tricts which exceeds that of the males to an extent less than that which obtains for the
population in Canada as a whole. Two of these countries, namely, Turkey and Bulgaria,
are comparativelv unimportant from the standpoint of numbers, and the remaining four,
namely Russia, Austria, Ukraine and Galacia, are all in the South, Eastern and Central
European section of Europe. This means that the women from that section of the Continent
are exceptionally rural as compared with the men. That this should be the case and that the
bulk of immigrants from those four countries should be of Slavic origin is rather significant.
In the case of seven other countries the females differ from the males in respect to
concentration in urban districts to an extent less than obtains for the total immigrant
population. They are Holland, Belgium, Germany and Norway in the North and West of
Europe, Greece in the South, and Hungary and Roumania in the East.
The immigrants showing the greatest difference between males and females in this
respect are the Jugo-Slavs, the Italians, the Japanese, the Finns and the Chinese. In all
five cases the percentage of females urban exceeds by more than 10 p.c. the proportion of
males living in urban districts.
The difference of 8-61 p.c. for the United States immigrants is suggestive. That figure
is higher than the figure for any of the groups of origins which appear at the foot of Table 55.
Immigration from the United States consists largely of British and French stock with an
admixture of Scandinavian and Germanic, yet the difference between males and females of
United States birth in respect to concentration in urban districts is greater than that for
either the British born, the French born or those of Scandinavian or Germanic birth.
Length of residence on this continent seems to be the main explanation.
Finally, on examining the data for the geographical and linguistic groups, it appears
that the extent by which the females exceed the males in urban concentration is far greater
for the North Western Europeans than for. immigrants from the South, Eastern and Central
Europe Indeed, the figure for South, Eastern and Central Europe is smaller than that for
CONCENTRATION OF VARIOUS STOCKS IN LARGE CITIES
113
the population as a whole, which implies that unduly large numbers of women as compared
with men from those countries were living in rural parts. Among the linguistic groups the
Scandinavians show the greatest difference, while those from Slavic countries show the
smallest. The surpluses for the Germanic and Latin and Greek groups are practically equal.
TABLE 55.-
-PERCENTAGE URBAN OF MALE AND FEMALE IMMIGRANTS IN CANADA, BY
COUNTRIES OF BIRTH, 1921.
Birthplace
Canada
Per cent urban
Per cent
by which
proportion of
urban females
exceeds
proportion
of urban
males
Males
Females
47-40
51-80
+ 4-40
53-68
62-65
. 59-73
68-32
+ 6-05
+ 5-67
43-84
34-23
38-11
53-66
38-79
28-97
28-87
49-11
24-52
34-68
88-47
38-52
35-26
33-13
71-98
4613
20-20
64-24
49-24
54-42
22-34
4117
41-57
65-80
65-55
71-32
34-84
82-13
83-75
73-06
38-59
31-31
48-75
23-25
36-23
65-83
45-27
48-57
36-92
43-99
46-55
45-12
36-99
40-28
56-24
24-20
40-55
93-36
44-46
40-27
41-96
84-02
60-00
24-81
71-46
53-71
58-61
28-89
50-63
42-29
68-67
65-11
81-58
46-39
89-69
86-44
79-70
47-10
39-29
51-99
30-12
42-07
70-86
48-95
+ 4-73
+ 2-69
+ 5-88
- 711
+ 6-33
+ 8-02'
+ 11-41
+ 713
- 0-32
+ 5-87
+ 4-89
Holland
+ 5-94
+ 5-01
+ 8-83
Italy
+ 12-04
+ 13-87
+ 4-61
Poland
+ 7-22
+ 4-47
+ 4-19
+ 6-55
+ 9-46
+ 0-72
Others
+ 2-87
- 0-44
+ 10-26
+ 11-55-
+ 7-56
Turkey
+ 2-69
+ 6-64
+ 8-51
+ 7-98
+ 3-24
+ 6-87
+ 5-84
+ 5-03
+ 3-68
THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE DIFFERENT STOCKS CONGREGATE IN
LARGE CITIES
Table 56 shows the proportions of specified stocks in the eighteen Canadian cities with
a population of 25,000 and over. Unfortunately the data for the foreign born are not con-
veniently available, so attention is confined in this subsection to distribution of population
by origins.
The second column of Table 56 arranges the proportion of the specified stocks in order
of magnitude. A rough calculation from the recent census shows that approximately 25 p.-c.
of .the -population lives in cities of 25,000 and over in Canada. Ten of the stocks lusted show
a more marked tendency to concentrate in the large cities. Of all origins the Jewish is most
urban; 84-06 p.c. of the Jews live in cities of over 25,000 inhabitants, a percentage exceed-
ing that for 'the next highest Stock, the Greeks, by approximately a third. The Hebrews had
about three and a half times as large a percentage in large cities in Canada as had the
population as a whole; the Italians almost twice. The percentages for the Chinese, Syrians
and Japanese range from 44-87 down to 29-52. The Asiatics in Canada are thus abnormally
74422—8
114
URBAN AND RURAL DISTRIBUTION OF VARIOUS STOCKS
urban. The same applies to the Negroes, with almost 36 p-c. of their population in the
large cities. While the British, Polish and Roumanian peoples show proportions higher
than the population as -a whole, the differences are not of great magnitude.
These figures throw a rather interesting light on the experience of many of the large
cities in the United States and certain of the larger cities in Canada. Those stocks which
gravitate to the larger centres to an abnormal extent are very often found in quarters or
wards. There are Jewish sections, Italian sections, Chinese sections and Negro sections in
a great many of the larger cities on this continent. One does not hear of a Scandinavian
quarter or of a Dutch or German section of a city nearly so frequently. Segregation of
particular stocks has grave social and political consequences wherever it occurs, and this
tendency of certain foreign stocks to concentrate in the large cities of Canada is significant
from the standpoint of assimilation.
TABLE 56— PER CENT OF SPECIFIED ORIGINS IN CITIES OF 25.000 AND OVER IN CANADA, 1921.
Note. — The percentage of .the total population in such cities was 25-42..
Alphabetic arrangement
Arrangement according to rank
Origins
-P.C.
P.C.
Rank
28-17
22-45
13-24
17-29
44-87
10-80
17-82
11-84
5-96
9-39
64-20
84-06
10-93
16-06
. 9-53
47-92
29-52
35-97
6-55
28-10
26-15
13-14
23-63
10-11
17-64
41-85
2-66
13-34
11-83
8-38
33-05
34-85
84-06
64-20
• 47-92
-44-87
41-85
35-97
34-85
33-05
29-52
28-17
■ 28-10
26-15
23-63
22-45
17-82
17-64
17-29
16-06
13-34
13-24
13-14
11-84
11-83
10-93
10-80
1011
■ 9-53
9-39
8-38
6-55
5-96
2-66
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Dutch
8
9
10
Polish
11
12
13
14
Danish
15
. 16
17
18
19
Polish ' : , . ..
20
21
Dutch
•22 •
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32 .
Table 57 arranges the data by geographical and Table 58 by linguistic classification.
The percentages for all Northern Europeans in cities of 25,000 inhabitants and over are
less than for the population as a whole. In the case of the Norwegians and Germans a
tendency to avoid large cities is most marked. With the exception of the Greeks, the
Italians, the Poles and the Roumanians, all the South Eastern Europeans likewise show
smaller proportions in the large cities in Canada than does the total population. Of the
South, Eastern and Central Europeans, the Finns, the Ukrainians, the Czechs and Hun-
garians avoid the larger cities to an unusual extent. The percentages for Asiatic peoples
are all higher than for the population of Canada as a whole.
Turning to Table 58 we find that irregularity in the data makes generalization difficult.
The general levels of the Scandinavian and Germanic groups are practically the same, and
with the exception of the Poles and the Serbo-Croatians, the tendency to concentrate in
large cities is probably about as small among the Slavic peoples in Canada as among the
Scandinavian and Germanic. On the other hand, the percentages of the Latin and Greek
stocks in large cities are exceedingly high, except for the Roumanians, to whom reference
has already been made. Of the Scandinavians, the Norwegians show the greatest aversion
to large cities; of the Germanic group, the Germans; and of the Slavic group, the Ukrainians.
The Poles appear to be different from other Slavic peoples in this respect. With a figure
PERCENTAGE OF DIFFERENT ORIGINS IN LARGE CITIES
115
of 28-10 p.c. in cities 25.000 and over, they are far above the general level for the group.
Reference has been made to the large number of Jews among immigrants from Poland, but
it is unlikely that any large numbers of Jewish origin declared themselves as of Polish origin,
so that the high figure for the Polish stock cannot be attributed' to the influence of an admix-
ture of Jewish people who show such marked concentration in large cities. That this is so, is
borne out by the comparatively low figures for the Austrians and the Russians. Many
immigrants from those countries, and especially the latter, are of Jewish extraction, and
there is no reason why the Jews from Russia would call themselves of Jewish origin while
those from Poland would claim to be of Polish stock. There is apparency a clear distinc-
tion between the Poles and the other Slavs in respect to their tendency to concentrate in
the larger cities on the continent.
TABLE 57.— PER CENT OF SPECIFIED ORIGINS IN CITIES 25,000 AND OVER IN CANADA, BY •
GEOGRAPHICAL GROUPING OF ORIGINS, 1921.
Origins
Percentage
in Cities.
25,000
and over
North Western Europe —
p.c.
17-29
17-82-
22-45
9-39
Dutch
11-84
16-06
6-55
10-11
17-64
South, Eastern and Central Europe —
13-24
10-80
5-96
13-34 .
64-20
10-93
47-92
Polish
28-10
26-15
13-14
23-63
9-98
Asia —
44-87
29-52
41-85
TABLE 58.— PER CENT OF SPECIFIED ORIGINS IN CITIES, 25.000 AND OVER, IN CANADA, BY
LINGUISTIC GROUPING OF ORIGINS, 1021.
Origins
Percentage
. in Cities
25,000
and over
Scandinavian —
p.c.
17-82
16-06
6-55 '
1011
Germanic —
17-29
9-39
Dutch
11-84
Latin and Greek —
64-20-'
47-92-
26-15
Slavic — -'
13-24'
10-80 ■
13-34
28-10 '■'
13-14: i
23-63 '
9-98 '•
^Includes Bukovinian, Galician, Ruthenian and Ukrainian.
74422—81
CHAPTER VI
ORIGINS AND INTERMARRIAGE IN THE REGISTRATION AREA
IN CANADA
INTRODUCTION
The study of the varying extents to which intermarriage has occurred between the
different stocks included in the population of Canada is as complex as it is important. The
first type of difficulty arises because of, the limited data which are available. The census
does not publish a separate classification of the married population by origins; consequently
a direct approach to the study is impossible. An alternative method would be to analyze
the marriages in the census year; but even were the records of origins included in the
provincial official notices of marriage, it is doubtful whether the intermingling of different
stocks, as indicated by marriages in a given year, would be representative of the total
amount of intermarriage which had taken place. The tendency would be to over-emphasize
it, due to the fact that as the length of residence of the immigrant population in Canada
increases, the extent of intermarriage also increases. It would obviously be wrong to
assume that the rate applying in 192.1, which marriage data for that year might supply,
would be applicable to people who were in this country ten or twenty years ago and con-
tracted their marriages in those years. Further, on account of the varying inflow of
immigrant peoples, the marriage data of any given year would be unreliable as a guide to
the total amount of intermarriage. This is especially true of the decade 1911-1921 with its
great fluctuations in immigration. However, even if these objections did not exist to the
use of marriages as an index of assimilation, such procedure is impossible, since informa-
tion as to origin is not available in the marriage returns.
The alternative source of information, on which of necessity this study has been based,
.is the origin of the parents of children born in the Registration Area of Canada in the year
1921, as given in the "First. Annual Report on Vital Statistics" of the Dominion Bureau
of Statistics.
The first limitation imposed in using these data is the fact that as the province of
Quebec compiled and published its own vital statistics at that time, the reports of that
province are not comparable with the figures for the other provinces as compiled and edited
by the Dominion Bureau of Statistics. Since 1926, the vital statistics for Quebec are on the
same basis as those of the other provinces under the Bureau, but the present study for the
census year 1921 can embrace only that part of Canada which at that time was included in
the Registration Area. Another difficulty is the variations in the amount of detail in which
origin classifications are given in the various tables of the Census rfnd Vital Statistical
Reports, and the absence of certain analyses important for a comparative study of this
nature. The limitation of space in the census and the expense involved in compilation
and publication account for this.
. Offsetting these drawbacks the use of the origin of fathers and mothers of children born
in 1921 has many advantages. First, it is not open to the objections applying to the use of
marriage data. The parents of the children born in 1921 are much more representative of
the married population with respect to origin than are the young people who were married
in that single year. Further, such data are not so sensitive to the inflow of immigrant
population. And finally, there were over three times as many births as marriages in the
year 1921. The actual number of births reported in the Registration Area in the year of
the census was 168,979. For some 22,000 of those, the origins of the parents are not given.
Over 12,000 of that number occur in Alberta, making the data for that province less
116
MARRIAGE WITHIN THE SAME ORIGIN GROUP
117
representative than those of the other provinces. But the study is first concerned with the
Registration Area as a whole, and when the 22,000 are deducted from the total figure,
approximately 150,000 married men and 150,000 married women of child-bearing age and
of various specified origins are left as the parents of the children born in the Registration
Area in that year. It is suggested that this number is sufficiently large and sufficiently
representative for the purpose of this study.
THE TENDENCY TO MARRIAGE WITHIN THE SAME ORIGIN GROUP
Table 6, page 58, dn the "First Annual Report on Vital Statistics" published for 19121
by the Dominion Bureau of Statistics, shows the number of births in the Registration Area
by origin of father and origin of mother. Table 59 below, gives a list of those fathers and
mothers whose origin is specified and also the number of cases where both are of the same
origin.
TABLE 59.-ORIGIN OF PARENTS OF CHILDREN BORN IN THE REGISTRATION AREA IN 1921.
Origin
i
Number
of
fathers
Number
of
mothers
Number of
mothers
and .
fathers of
same
origin
56,662
18,924
22,284
702
59,180
17,738
22,118
551.
43,348
8,761
11,326
148
Welsh
98,572
99,687
90,740
17,909
37
2,765
517
68
295
197
360
1,434
368
869
7,563
189
4
362
448
610
2,162
618
1,554
338
1,313
1,663
604
2,202
112
1,161
190
194
2,564
18,858
30
2,873
522
37
277
231
246
1,371
•401
877
7,833
103
3
403
528
714
1,789
609
1,529
366
1,384
1,645
594
2,064
91
1,175
134
145
2,570
15, 205
26
2,471
371
35
274
129
674,
334]
778
5,691
92
2
310
373
549
1,744
608
1,489
314
771
1,330
462
1,700
75
643
50
136
2,372
Polish
Total
147,242
48,670
149,088
49,401
129,841
39,101
Total (less British origin). ,
On the assumption that the figures above are representative of the married population
as a whole, or sufficently so for all practical purposes, by expressing the number- of fathers who
have married women of- the same origin- as a percentage of the total fathers of each origin,
the extent to which the fathers have married within their respective groups is showh in
comparable form. The same applies to the marriage of mothers to men of the same origin.
The percentages will be rarely the same for men and women of a given group, because the
"number of the married males usually differs from the number of married females of the
same origin.
118 ORIGINS AND INTERMARRIAGE IN THE REGISTRATION AREA
The result of the above computation, i.e. of expressing column 3 in Table 69 as a per-
centage of columns 1 and 2 respectively appears in Table 60 below, with origins arranged
according to the size of percentage, in each case.
TABLE 60.
-PERCENTAGE OF ENDOGAMOUS MARRIAGES AMONG PARENTS OF CHILDREN BORN
IN REGISTRATION AREA IN 1921.
Men
Women
• Origin
P.c. married
to women of
same origin
Origin
P.c. married
to men of
same origin
98-4
95-8
92-9
92<9
92-6
90-8
90-0
89-5
89-4
85-6
84-9
83-3
80-7
80-0
77-2
76-5
76-5
75-2
71-8
70-3
70-1
67-0
65-5
58-7
55-4
51 -5
50-8
48-7
470
46-3
26-3
25-8
21-1
99-8 .
' 99-0
97>-5
9/- 4
94-6
93-8
92-3
893
88-7
86'7
860
85-8
83-3
Polish
82-4
82-4
Polish
80-6
77-8
76-9
76-9
73-3
72'6
71 1
70-6
55-8
55-7
54-7
51-2
Dutch
49-2
49-4
37-8
37-3
Welsh . . .'.
Welsh
22-7
70-6
74-4
A very cursory examination of this table will reveal a number of interesting and
important facts.
(1) The wide range over which the percentages are scattered suggests that there are
very real differences between the several stocks as to the extent to which assimilation by
intermarriage has taken place.
(2) The tendency for men and for women to marry within their own group fluctuates
within approximately the same limits, but the average percentage is some four points higher
for the women. An examination into the causes of this will be attempted in a subsequent
part of this chapter. ■
(3) While, on the whole, much the same order obtains in the two columns of Table 60,
there are a number of exceptional cases where the percentage of endogamous marriages for
the men differs considerably from that for the women of the same group. For example,
83.3 p.c. of the Icelandic men were married to Icelandic women, and only 70-6 p.c. of the
Icelandic women had married Icelandic men. The reverse is true for the Bulgarians, for
instance, where 51.5 p.c. of the men had married within their group and 94.6 p.c. of the
women. A detailed examination of this table will reveal many such differences.
The table as it stands gives the percentage for the individual origins. Further light is
thrown on the differences by grouping them according to colour, geographical and linguistic
divisions. Re-arranging Table 60 on the lines of this group classification the following
analysis is obtained: —
ENDOGAMY AMONG THE COLOURED RACES
119
TABLE 61— ENDOGAMY AMONG PARENTS OF CHILDREN OF COLOURED RACES, 1921.
Men
Women
Origin
Percentage
married to
women of
Bame origin
Racial Origin
Percentage
married to
men of
same origin
98-4
92-9
92-9
90-0
99-8
99-0
85-8
Indian
70-9
93-8
94-7
The coloured stocks are thus seen to stand very high as to percentage of both men
and women marrying within their own group. Stated conversely, the tendency for the
coloured to mix by marriage with the whites is remarkably small. The colour barrier
seems to be the greatest of all barriers to assimilation. This applies both to men and women.
That the amount of endogamous marriage is greater for the women than for the men of the
yellow stocks is at least in part due to the relative scarcity of such women in Canada
because .of immigration difficulties; and the lower percentage of endogamous marriage
among Indian women may be related to the relative scarcity of white women in certain
sections of this country. The figure for the negro women is unreliable because the origin
of 11 p.c. of the husbands was unstated. The point to be emphasized in this section, how-
ever, is the fact that coloured stocks have mixed least, either among themselves or with
the whites, up to the present time.
passing to Table 62 it is seen that, as a class, both the men. and women of South,
Eastern and Central European stocks had married within their respective groups to a far
greater extent than had those of stocks from the North Western parts of the continent.
Marked variation appears within each group. But it is evident from comparison of the
median values and the ranges over which the percentages are scattered that what applies
to the total is true generally. The upper and lower limits for both sexes are lower for the
North Western European group than for the South, Eastern and Central Europeans, and the
median values for the men are 58-7 p.c. as compared with 80.0 p.c. and for the women,
55-7 p.c. as against 83-3 p.c. These facts may be stated' in terms of exogamous marriages
as follows: While 16.2 p.c. of the men and 13.5 p.c. of the women of South, Eastern and
Central European origin had married outside their respective groups, 33-3 p.c. of the men'
and 34-3 p.c. of the women of North Western European origin had done so. Thus about
twice the proportion of mixed marriages had occurred in the case of the North Western
Europeans.
Further light is thrown' on the subject by Table 63, where the grouping is according to
linguistic divisions. Attention is first directed to the males. The Slavs (85. 2 p.c.) had
married within their respective groups considerably more than the Latins and Greeks
(77-8 p.c); the percentage for the latter' group is higher than that for the Germanic
(70.8 p.c.) and that for the Germanic higher than that for the Scandinavian (57.3 p/i.).
There is thus a wide spread between the figure of 57-3 p.c. for the Scandinavian group and
that of 85.2 p.c. for the Slavs. Expressing the difference in terms of intermarriage, the pro-
portions of the men of Scandinavian, origin .who. had intermarried with other origins was
42-7 p.c. or nearly three times greater than that for' the Slavs (14.8 p.c.) and twice that for
the Latin and Greek, group (22.2 p.c).
Similar differences obtain between the percentages for the women The figure for the'
women of' Latin and Greek origin, however, is higher than that for the women of the Slavic'
stocks. As will be shown below, one reason- for this is difference in sex distribution. There
is a very ;kmge surplus of. .men of Latin and' Greek Stocks in Canada; ■ with the result that
women of' marriageable" age are keenly sought Rafter! by their own countrymen. ■ '
Clearly; then, assimilation by intermarriage' has proceeded much farther with the North
and Western Europeans -than with the South, Eastern and Central' Europeans, and with the
Scandinavian and Germanic peoples than with the Latins and Greeks.
120 ORIGINS AND INTERMARRIAGE IN THE REGISTRATION AREA
TABLE 62.— ENDOGAMOUS MARRIAGES AMONG THE POPULATION OF CONTINENTAL EUROPEAN
ORIGINS. BY GEOGRAPHICAL GROUPINGS, 1921 (AS INDICATED BY THE PARENTAGE OF
CHILDREN BORN IN THE REGISTRATION AREA).
Men
Women
Rank
Origin
Percentage
married to
women of
same origin
Rank
Origin
Percentage
married to
men of
same origin
1
North Western Europe —
p.c.
83-3
75-2
71-8
58-7
55-4
47-0
26-3
25-8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
North Western Europe —
p.c.
72-6
2
3
4
5
54 7
6
Dutch
Dutch
7
Swiss
37-8
8
Total
South, Eastern and Central Europe—
Ukrainian
Total :
66-7
65-7
South, Eastern and Central Europe —
1
92-5
90-8
89-5
89-4
85-6
80-7
80-0
77-2
76-5
67-0
65-5
51-5
48-7
97-5
2
3
Galician
Austrian
Hungarian
92-3
4
89-3
5
88-7
6
7
Polish
83-3
8
82-4
9
Roumanian
'82-4
10
Polish...'
81 -0
11
77-8
12
Bulgarian
Greek
Total
76-9
13
55-8
Total
83-8
86'5
TABLE 63.— ENDOGAMOUS MARRIAGES AMONG THE POPULATION OF CONTINENTAL EUROPEAN
ORIGINS BY LINGUISTIC GROUPS, 1921 (AS INDICATED BY THE PARENTAOE OF CHILDREN
BORN IN THE REGISTRATION AREA).
Men
Women
Origin
P.c.
married to
women of
same origin
P.c.
married to
men of
same origin
Scandinavian —
25-8
83-3
58-7
55-4
37-8
70-6
558
57-3
Germanic —
' Dutch '.
470
71-8
75-2
49-2
71 .1
72-6
Total '.
70-8
69-3
Latin and Greek —
48-7
80-7
76-5
89-3
97'5
77-8
Total
77-8
92-4
Slavic —
89-4
51-5
89-5
80-0
77-2
67-0
85-5
92-5
86'0
94'6
88'7
Polish
82-4
55-8
Total
85-2
85-6
INTERMARRIAGE WITH BRITISH AND FRENCH
121
' ASSIMILATION BY INTERMARRIAGE WITH THE BRITISH AND FRENCH
Intermarriage with Those of British Origin.— 'More important than intermarriage
generally from the standpoint of assimilation is the progress made in intermarriage with
those of British and French origin. In Table 64 are found the numbers and percentages
of the fathers and mothers who had married into the British stock. Tables 65 and 66 group
the data by specified territorial and linguistic divisions.
These taible3 repeat the story of the three preceding ones, though the differences in the
proportions are many times more marked. The percentages of the North Western Euro-
pean married males who had married into the British stocks were five times greater than
that for the South, Eastern and Central European married males andi, in the case of the
women, the proportion was ten times greater. Similar differences appear as between the
linguistic groups. Between 20 and 25 p.c. of the Scandinavian and Germanic married men
and women had married into the British stocks, as against less than 3 p.c. of the Slavs. The
unusual sex distribution of the Greeks and Italians is reflected again in the data on inter-
marriage with the British. Practically no mixed marriages had occurred between the women
of these origins and the British, but owing to the shortage of marriageable females in Can-
ada the Italian and Greek males had in some cases taken wives of British origin. Yet the
actual, amount of intermarriage kas not been great even for the men. Up to 1921 only
10-6 p.c. of the Latin and Greek married males had intermarried with the British. More
detailed examination of the tables reveals striking differences as between particular stocks.
.When the proportions of married men who had married into British stocks are arranged
in .rank, the Galicians and Ukrainians appear at the bottom of the list and the Dutch and
Swiss 'ait the top. Less than one an every hundred Galician and Ukrainian fathers in Canada
had married a wife of British origin, while 44 out of every hundred fathers of Dutch origin
and 37 of the Swiss had done so. The figure for the Dutch is 80 times larger than that for
the Galicians and 60 times greater than that for the Ukrainians. (See p. 123.)
TABLE 64— NUMBER AND PERCENTAGE OF MARRIED MEN AND WOMEN OF DIFFERENT ORIGINS
WHO HAD MARRIED INTO THE BRITISH STOCKS, AND HAD CHILDREN BORN TO THEM IN 1921.
Origin
Men
CD
Total
(2)
Number
married
into
British
(3)
Per cent
(Col. 2 of
Column 1)
Women
CD
Total
(2)
Number
married
into
British
races
(3)
Per cent
(Col. 2 of
Column 1)
Armenian
Austrian
Belgian
Bulgarian
Chinese
Czechoslovak. . .
Danish
Dutch
Finnish
Galician
German
Greek
Hungarian
Icelandic
Indian
Italian
Japanese
Jewish
Negro
Norwegian
Polish
Roumanian
Russian
Serbo-Croatian..
Swedish
Swiss
Syrian
Ukrainian
. 37
2,765
517
68
295
. 197
360
. 1.434
368
. .869
7,563
189
.362
448
610
2,162
618
1,554
338
1,313
. 1,663
604
2,202
. 112
1,161
190
. 194
2,564
5
37
....49
16
10
.19
124
623
15
. 4
1,273
52
7
. .59
27
240
6
25
13
297
60
.20
.97
10
250
70
. 28
17
. 13-5
1-3
. ..9-.5-
23-5
3-4
.9 -.6
34-5
43-4
4-1
. 0-.S
16-8
27-5
. .1-9
13-2
4-4
111
1-0
1-6
3-8
22-6
3-6
3-3
' 4.4
8-9
21-5
36-8
14-4
0-7
...30
2,873
.. 522
37
277
. 231
246
. 1,371
401
. .87.7
7,833
103
403
.528
714
1,789
609
1,529
366
. 1,384
1,645
594
2,064
91
1,175
. .134
145
2,570
1
45
59
0
1
26
97
. 552
20
3
1,470
1
20
114
62
25
0
11
2
321
64
7
76
4
290
50
.4
11
3-3
1-6
11-3
0-4
11-3
39-4
40-3
50
0-3
18-8
1-0
5-0
21-6
8-7
1-4
0-7
0-5
23-2
3-9
1-2
3-7
. 4-4
24-7
37-3
2-8
0-4
122 ORIGINS AND INTERMARRIAGE IN THE REGISTRATION AREA
TABLE 65.^PERCENTAGES OF MARRIED MEN AND WOMEN OF CONTINENTAL EUROPEAN ORIGIN
MARRIED INTO THE BRITISH STOCKS AND HAVING CHILDREN BORN TO THEM IN 1921, BY
GEOGRAPHICAL GROUPING.
Origin
Men
Women
P.O.
P.c.
married
married
into
into
British
British
stocks
stocks
p.c.
p.c.
43-4
40-3
13-2
21-6
16-8
18-8
34-5
39-4
38-8
37-3
21-5
24-7
22-6
23-2
9-5
11-3
213
22-3
11-1
1-4
0-5
0-3
9-6
11-3
8-9
4.4
4-4
3-7
36
3-9
1-3
1-6
1-9
50
27-5
10
0-7
0-4
3-3
12
41
50
23-5
-
North Western Europeans —
Dutch
Icelandic —
German —
Danish —
Swiss
Swedish
Norwegian
Belgian
Total
South, Eastern and Central Europeans —
Italian
Galician
Czechoslovak
Serbo-Croatian
Russian
Polish
Austrian
Hungarian
Greek
Ukrainian
Roumanian
Finnish ;
Bulgarian
Total
4-2
2-1
TABLE 66 -PERCENTAGES OF MARRIED MEN AND WOMEN OF CONTINENTAL EUROPEAN ORIGIN
MARRIED INTO THE BRITISH STOCKS AND HAVING CHILDREN BORN TO THEM IN 1921, BY
. LINGUISTIC GROUPING.
Origin
Scandinavian-
Icelandic
Norwegian
Swedish
Danish
Total...
Germanic —
Dutch
Belgian
German
Total...
Latin and Greek—
Greek
Italian....
Roumanian
Total...
Slavic —
Austrian..
Bulgarian
Galician
. Polish
Russian
Serbo-Croatian
Czechoslovak. .
Ukrainian.. :.. ,
Total...
Men
Percentage
married
into
British
stocks
p.c.
13-2
22-6
21-5
34-5
1-3
23-5
0-5
3-6
4-4
0-7
2-5
Women
Percentage
married
into
British
stocks
p.c.
21-6
23-2
24-7
39-4
22-2
24-7
43-4
9-5
18-S
40-3
11-3
18-8
20-5
21-4
27-5
111
3-3
1-0
1-4
1-2
10-6
1-3
0-3
3-9
3-7
4-4
11-3
0-4
2-2
INTERMARRIAGE WITH BRITISH AND FRENCH'
123
Bank
Origin
Per cent
of married
men mar-
ried into
British
stocks
Kank
Origin
Per cent
of married
men mar-
ried into
British
stocks
1
43-4
36-8
34-5
24-0
23-5
22-6
216
168
14-4
13-5
13-2
111 .
9-6
9-5
IS
16
17
13
19
20
21
22
23
. 24
25
26
27
28
8-9
2
4.4
3
4.4
4
.41
5
3-8
6
Polish
3-6
3-4
3-3
9
1-9
10
1-6
11
1-3
12
10
13
0-7
14
0-5
That the Bulgarians, Italians and Greeks appear in the upper half of the list is attribu-
table to the very large surpluses of adult males in Canada. It is significant that the women
of these origins showed such small percentages as 0, 1-4 and 1-0 intermarrying with the
British. Generally speaking, the Scandinavian and Germanic peoples showed a relatively
large amount of intermarrying with the British, while the Slavs show very low percentages.
Were the figures for the women examined a similar distribution would be found. Reasons
for these differences will! be discussed in the next section.
Before leaving this phase of the analysis, however, attention is drawn to the absolute
magnitude of the figures. Important as are the differences between the various stocks in
the relative degrees to which they have mixed with British stock, the absolute magnitude
of the proportions is of as great, if not greater, significance, for they indicate the amount
of assimilation by marriage which has already. taken place. Assimilation by this means has
made some progress among most; of the' North Western European .peoples. It has scarcely
begun with the South, Eastern and Central Europeans. About one-fifth of the men and
women of Scandinavian and Germanic origin had intermarried with British stock by 1921,
as against less than 3 p.c. of the Slavs. About one-tenth of the Greek and Italian married
men have married with the British, but only one in a hundred of their women have taken
husbands from the British stocks. It is apparent that many of the ingredients in Canada's
" melting pot " have not yet begun to dissolve.
TABLE 67— SUMMARY TABLE SHOWING PERCENTAGE OF MARRIED MEN AND WOMEN OF CONTI-
NENTAL EUROPEAN ORIGIN MARRIED INTO BRITISH STOCKS BY GEOGRAPHICAL AND LING-
UISTIC GROUPS, 1921 (AS INDICATED BY THE PARENTAGE OF CHILDREN BORN IN THE
REGISTRATION AREA).
Men
Women
Origin
Per cent
married to
women
of British
origin
Per cent
married to
men
of British '
origin
p.c.
21-3
4-2
22-2
20-5
10-6
2-7
p.c.
22-3
21
24-7
21-4
1-3
2-4
Intermarriage with those oj French Origin. — As was pointed out at the beginning, the
data on- intermarriage do not include the province of Quebec. Next to the English speak-
ing peoples, however, the French is the largest element numerically in the Registration
Area. Yet it is questionable whether the difference in numbers alone is adequate to account
for the spread between the figures in TaHe 68, showing the extent of intermarriage of Con-
tinental European groups with French stock, and those in Table 67 showing intermarriage-
of Continental Europeans with the British.
124 ORIGINS AND INTERMARRIAGE IN THE REGISTRATION AREA
TABLE 68— PERCENTAGE OF MARRIED MEN AND WOMEN OF CONTINENTAL EUROPEAN ORIGIN
MARRIED TO FRENCH IN THE REGISTRATION AREA, BY GEOGRAPHICAL AND LINGUISTIC
GROUPS, 1921 (AS INDICATED BY THE PARENTAGE OF CHILDREN BORN IN THE REGISTRA-
TION AREA).
Origin
Men
Women
Per cent
married to
women
of French
stock
Per cent
married to
men
of French
stock
2-7-
10
1-9
2-8
2-9
0-5
2-3
0-4
1-7
2-4
0-2
0-4
TABLE 69— PERCENTAGE OF MARRIED MEN AND WOMEN OF CONTINENTAL EUROPEAN ORIGIN
MARRIED INTO FRENCH AND BRITISH STOCKS IN THE REGISTRATION AREA, BY GEOGRAPHI-
CAL AND LINGUISTIC GROUPS (AS INDICATED BY THE PARENTAGE OF CHILDREN BORN IN
THE REGISTRATION AREA IN 1921).
Origin
Men
Women
Per cent
married to
women
of British
and French
stocks
Per cent
married to
men
of British
and French
stocks
p.c.
24-0
5-2
24-1
22-8
13-5
3-2
p.c.
24-6
2-5
26-4
23-8
1-5
2-8
Table 69 is a summary of tables 67 and 68. It gives an index of the total amount of
assimilation by intermarriage of the Continental European stocks with the basic stocks of
ths country, by geographical and linguistic groups. Combining the two tables does not
alter the order found to obtain in Table 67 showing the amount of intermarriage with the
British stocks alone, and the remarks made in connection with that table apply with equal
force to Table 69.
While botih tables1 agree in showing a great amount of intermarriage on the part of
those of North Western European . origin with the French and British, there are significant
differences in the behaviour of the linguistic groups. The relative amount of intermarriage
for the males of the Scandinavian, Germanic and Latin and Greek origins follows the
reverse order in the two tables. That is to say, those who marry least with .the British,
marry to the greatest extent with the French, and vice versa. To be specific, the men of
Scandinavian extraction have intermarried with the British proportionately more than have
those of Germanic origin, and they in turn more than the Latins and Greeks. On the other
hand, the Latin and Greek males have intermarried to a greater extent with the French
than have those of Germanic extraction, and the Germanic more than1 the Scandinavian. It
would thus appear that the men of Scandinavian and Germanic origin are relatively more
easily assimilable by marriage with the British than are the Latin and Greeks, while the
Latin and Greeks more readily assimilate with the French. In this connection it may be
pointed out that the data on intermarriage are based on experience outside Quebec, so that
the smallness of the numbers of Scandinavians and Germans in that province does not
invalidate the above conclusion.
1 That is, Tables 67 and
RELATION BETWEEN INTERMARRIAGE AND LENGTH OF RESIDENCE 125
THE RELATION BETWEEN INTERMARRIAGE, LENGTH OF RESIDENCE,
SURPLUS MALES AND SIZE OF ORIGIN GROUPS
The aim hitherto has been to examine the extent of intermarriage in the Registration
Area in Canada. The experience of the 150,000 fathers and mothers has been taken as
typical of all married men and women. The extent to which the various origins and groups
of origins had intermarried up to 1921 has been noted; and particular attention was paid
to the amount of assimilation by marriage which had taken place with the British and
French stocks in Canada. It was found that the different stocks varied greatly in respect
to the progress of this process of fusion, and an attempt will now be made to determine how
far those differences were due to causes associated with the origins, and how far to extraneous
causes such as length of residence, sex distribution and actual magnitude of the origin
groups in Canada.
Such factors are of great importance in explaining the proportions of exogamous
marriages. The mere fact of recent arrival may have .precluded the possibility of inter-
marriage, and certain peoples which show small percentages intermarrying may not be averse
to mixing with other stocks but may merely have lacked opportunity. Other things being
equal, the longer a group has been resident in Canada or the United States, the larger will
tend to be the percentage of intermarriage. Again, the larger the surplus of males of
marriageable age in a given group, the greater will be the proportion who will have to find
partners in other stocks if they intend to marry. Further, the larger the percentage a given
group constitutes of the total population, the greater is the chance of that group being self-
contained in respect to marriage. This may be stated conversely and made clearer by a
concrete illustration such as the following : The mathematical probability of a German taking
a German wife is greater if there are fifty German women in every one hundred women of
the population than if there are only five or ten. Such factors are more or less independent
of the characteristics of particular stocks, and we will now proceed to determine how. far
they account for the differences which appear.
Lenyth oj Residence. — The first problem is to -secure a satisfactory index of length of
residence. In Chapter III the percentages of Canadian and United States born in the several
stocks were used in discussing this question. For rough comparisons they served fairly
well, but while long residence is probably the most important cause of the high percentage
North American born, it should be kept in mind that other factors are involved. First,
birth rate: a stock with a high birth rate will show a higher percentage Canadian and
United States born than one with a low birth rate, assuming that other things are equal in
all respects. Further, a group of immigrants among whom the numbers of the sexes are
nearly equal will show a higher percentage born in North America after a given period,
than one with a largo surplus of males. A surplus of unmarried males does not reproduce
itself, while, when the numbers are approximately equal, the implication is that a larger
percentage of the adult men and women are married and making additions to the numbers
of their respective origins born on this continent. Finally, in cases where immigration has
been very recent and in comparatively great volume, the percentage Canadian and United
States born may be temporarily reduced. Where, on the other hand, immigration has been
arrested for a few years, a moderately prolific stock may show a high proportion born on
this continent within a comparatively short time. However, with all these qualifications,
in most normal cases the longer the people of a particular origin have been resident in
Canada or the United States, the larger will tend to be the percentage North American
born. Since it is the best index available for the purpose, we will venture to use it again in
examining the data on intermarriage.
It is recalled in passing that large percentages of certain origins, notably Scandinavian,
have immigrated to Canada from the United States, and because of this and the similarity
of the cultures in the two countries, the total Canadian and United States born was con-
sidered more suitable for the purpose of the analysis of Chapter II than the Canadian born
alone. In so far as the tendency to intermarriage is related to length of residence, residence
in the United States is the equivalent of residence in Canada.
126 ORIGINS AND INTERMARRIAGE IN THE ' REGISTRATION AREA'
The influence of length of residence as indicated by percentage North' American borti
may be illustrated from Table 70. Some 74 p.c. of the married men of Danish extraction
had married outside their own stock, and. over 91 p.c. of the Danes in Canada were born on
this continent. The proportions on both counts were exceptionally high. The figures for
the Swiss were 73 p.c. for intermarriage and 75 p.c. North American horn. On the other hand
only 23.5 p.c. of the Roumanian men had contracted exogamous marriages, and that group
showed the small proportion of 46 p.c. North American born. Less than 38 p.c. of the
Belgians were born in Canada and the United States, and they showed the small figure of
28. 2 p.c. males marrying with other peoples. From these examples it is obvious that length
of residence and intermarriage are related.
Yet we have ample evidence that length of residence in itself is by no means adequate
to account for the varying proportions. The colour barrier is more important. The data
for the Japanese, Indians and Negroes show this fact very clearly. Further, time seems to
have little effect on the Hebrew aversion to intermarriage, and as a result that people may
also be regarded as permanently unassimilable by marriage with the other peoples of Canada.
The Ukrainians, with nearly 55 p.c. North American born, have intermarried to an almost
negligible extent. The proportion of North American born is larger than that for any other
Slavic people, yet the amount of intermarriage for their men is not appreciably greater
than that for the Negroes and Chinese. The percentage of their women intermarrying is also
very small. Nor are considerations as to length of residence in themselves adequate to
explain the intermingling of the Austrians or Galicians with other stocks. Their men have
married into other stocks to an extent only equal to the aboriginal Indians and their
women to a smaller extent than the Negroes. Yet over half of both of these groups are
North American born. The Poles and Russians are the other two important Slavic peoples
in Canada. About the same proportions of these as of the Galicians and Austrians were
born on this continent, yet twice the amount of intermarriage has taken place. Further,
the Swedes with virtually the same percentage North American born as the four Slavic stocks
mentioned, show a proportion married outside their own stock double that of the Poles
and Russians and more than four times 'greater than that for the Austrians and Ukrainians.
Such examples could be multiplied. Important as is length of residence, other influences
are at work. Causes associated with origin naturally suggest themselves, but other more
or less extraneous conditions exist, and attention is next directed to sex distribution. Since
this factor is subject to definite measurement' it can be isolated and receive separate treat-
ment.
Sex Distribution. — It has been suggested that sex distribution is something apart from
origin, yet that is not strictly accurate. Indeed, in one sense it is primarily a matter of
stocks, for, as was pointed out in Chapter III, certain peoples send as emigrants to Canada
large proportions of unattached men, while emigration from other parts is composed chiefly
of married men with wives and families. In some easeis, however, the large surplus of males
is due mainly to legal restrictions on immigration, as in the case of the Chinese and Japanese ;
and it might be argued that Europe furnishes many instances where the proportions of the
sexes emigrating are determined by economic and other conditions in the homeland, quite
apart from considerations of the stocks. But the principal reason why sex distribution was
referred to above as extraneous to origin is that, given different .proportions of males and
females of marriageable age in a population group, the mathematical chance of a man
marrying a woman of the same origin is entirely different from that of a woman choosing a
husband of like stock. The men- and the women are of the same origin, but the extent of
endogamous marriage is influenced by their relative numbers. The differences in the rates
for the two sexes are conditioned by the accident of sex distribution, even though that
accident may be regarded as partially attributable to the characteristics of the particular
stocks.
By way of illustrating the influences of sex, a few examples may be chosen from the
data in Table 70. Nearly seven times as large a proportion of Chinese men as women inter-
marry, which is in part due to the fact that there are thirty-three times more adult males
than females of that origin in Canada. The Greeks, with a five times greater proportion of
RELATION OF SEX DISTRIBUTION TO INTERMARRIAGE 1*7
men intermarrying and a surplus of 370 p.c. adult males, furnish, a second illustration.
Other similar cases are the Bulgarians, Japanese, Serbo-Croatians and Italians All of those
peoples are characterized by large surpluses of males. .Generally speaking, where the
surplus of males is great, the proportion of males. intermarrying is large as compared with, the
proportion for the women. Conversely, where the inequality in the numbers is not marked,
the proportions of men and women marrying outside the group usually tend to be' more
nearly equal.
But there appears to be yet another factor involved, quite apart from differences in
the relative numbers of the sexes. If one selects the 7 non-British and non-French peoples
with the smallest surpluses of males 21 years and over in Canada, they are found to be
the following: Icelandic, Indian, Hebrew, Dutch, Germ an, Negro and Hungarian; the Ice-
landers with only 2 p.c. surplus males being the lowest, and the others mentioned in ascend-
ing order. Now in 5 out of those 7 cases, larger proportions of the women have contracted
exogamous marriages than of the men. This points to the conclusion that when sex
inequalities are eliminated women are less conservative than men in crossing the line in
marriage.
However, before dwelling on that point, the two exceptions should be dealt with, viz.,
the Jews and the Dutch. The first case, that of the Jews, is readily explained by the rigid
attitude of the Jews with regard to intermarriage acting as a greater deterrent to a daughter
contemplating an exogamous. marriage than to a son. While other factors may be involved,
it is probable that the one mentioned is the most important. At least it seems adequate
to explain the situation.
With the Dutch the explanation is more difficult. The pecularity may be a distinct
characteristic of the group in respect to •marriage preferences, but other factors are involved
in terms of which at least a plausible explanation may be found. . The Dutch, in the eastern
provinces are, as a group, the. oldest non-British and non-French residents in Canada, and
they show the largest proportions marrying with the British. Indeed in the East the Dutch
have already intermarried with the British to so great an extent that they are almost
indistinguishable from those appearing on the census records as of British stock. Conse-
quently, it tends to be a matter of indifference to one of Dutch origin in Ontario whether
he marries a wife of British or Dutch stock. The same tends to obtain with the women.
Since there is no barrier in the case of either sex, no occasion arises for the women to
appear less conservative than the men in crossing the line. Further, that the men appear
to intermarry to a greater extent, can.be explained by the fact that men •move about and
meet more people than do the women. In the West the situation as to barriers .to inter-
marriage is entirely different. The majority of those classified as Dutch in the three
prairie provinces in 1921 are Menaionites, who have intermarried to no great extent with the
British or French nor indeed with any other stock in Canada. They live in more or less
isolated communities and are entirely agricultural people. The women rarely leave the
farms or villages, but the men are able to move about the country, -and although they do
not congregate in the cities in the. West, the young men are seen very frequently in the
towns and villages adjacent to their communities. So with the Mennonites also one would
not be surprised to find the men, because of the opportunity of meeting people of other
origins, marrying outside their group to a greater extent than the women.
Having disposed of the two exceptions, one again puts forward the suggestion and with
greater confidence, that the tendency among women, of most stocks other than British and
French to marry outside their respective groups is greater than that among the men. If
further research establishes the existence of such a tendency, it may prove to be the result
of a true sex difference or it may be largely a matter of residence. In Chapter V it was
shown that in the case of immigrants from virtually every foreign country, larger percent-
ages of females than males live in urban districts. Urban life is more cosmopolitan, and
with large proportions of women of a given origin living in incorporated cities, towns and
villages, it is natural to expect, other things being equal, that they would show a large pro-
portion marrying into other stocks. Thus, in examining Table 70 both the difference in
128 ORIGINS AND INTERMARRIAGE IN THE REGISTRATION AREA
sex distribution and in the behaviour of the sexes (entirely apart from their relative num-
bers), should be kept in mind as possible factors in explaining the differences in the per-
centages of males and females married to wives and husbands of origins other than their
own.
Attention is now directed to another aspect of sex distribution and probably the most
important one. How far do differences in the proportions of surplus men account for the
differences appearing in the percentages of men of the several origins who have inter-
married with other stocks? Obviously they are related. The Greeks with 370 p.c. surplus
males shoiw an intermarriage figure of 51-3 p.c. for their men, while the Belgians with only
38 p.c. surplus males show the small-figure of 28-2 p.c. of their married males married to
wives of different origin. The length of residence of the two peoples on the North American
continent is about the same. While there are instances where the connection is not so
obvious, it will be demonstrated that a positive relation between surplus males and pro-
portions intermarrying always exists.
TABLE 70.— INTERMARRIAGE, SEX DISTRIBUTION, PERCENTAGE NORTH AMERICAN BORN
AND PROPORTIONS OF TOTAL POPULATION IN CANADA, FOR SPECIFIED ORIGINS, 1921.
Origin
1
Per cent
of married
males
ma ried to
wives of
different
origin1
2
Per cent
of married
females
married to
husbands of
different
origin1
3
Per cent
of surplus
males in
population
21 years
of age
and over
4
Per cent
of origin
North
American
born
5
Per cent
which
adults of
each origin
constitute
of total
adult
population
of Canada
29-7
10-6
28-2
48-5
71
34-5
74-2
53-0
9-2
10-5
24-8
51-3
4-2
14-4
16-7
100
19-3
1-8
71
41-3
20-0
23-5
22-8
33-0
44-6
73-7
29-9
7-5
13-3
14-0
28-9
5-4
11
44-2
62-2
50-8
16-7
11-3
27-3
10-7
2-6
23-1
29-4
23-1
2-5
0-2
14-2
44-3
19-1
22-2
17-6
17-6
45-3
62-7
6-2
7-7
57
38
738
3,263
41
67
13
61
15
370
10
28
2
3
116
153
20
60
48
101
57
228
74
34
63
48
28-4
53-4
• 37-0
15-6
7-6
55-8
91-4
61-7
43-6
52-6
85-3
32-8
44-2
54-4
61-4
99-8
45-9
27-4
91-8
66-5
54-6
45-8
55-8
42-3
54-2
75 0
52-8
54-4
0-97
0-23
003
0-71
009
0-24
Dutch
1-33
Finnish
0-24
3-26
0-08
Hebrew
1-27
0-12
Icelandic
0-18
Indian
0-70
0-22
0-22
0-77
Polish
0-50
014
0-92
0-05
0-73
0-16
0-08
0-91
1 As shown by parentage of children born in the Registration Area in 1921.
The Size oj the Group. — A third factor which is in no way hereditary and at the same
time can be definitely measured, is the proportion that the several groups constitute of the
total population. Other things being equal, the smaller the group the more easily it will
be assimilated by marriage with the numerically dominant groups among which it is
placed, and conversely, the larger the group the greater the difficulty. One might cite
instances from Table 70 to illustrate the point. As in the case- of length of residence aind
sex distribution, however, there are many cases where it is submerged toy other influences.
Correlation. — The method, of analysis followed hitherto has obvious limitations. When
the amount of intermarriage is compared with any one of the factors mentioned above,
namely, length of residence, sex distribution or size of group, it is found that the other two
exercise a disturbing influence sometimes counteracting and sometimes accentuating the
effect of the factor under consideration. The fact is that all three are operative at the
RELATION SEX DISTRIBUTION, SIZE OF GROUPS TO INTERMARRIAGE 129
same time. Now it is of prime importance to determine both their combined and several
effects on intermarriage— their combined effect, because if they do not account for the
actual proportions of intermarriage occurring other influences must be at work. The sepa-
rate influence of each is significant because it assists .in explaining the present situation
and also constitutes a basis for prediction as to the future. The method of multiple and
partial correlation enables one to generalize on the basis of the experience of the stocks
examined, and the regression equation makes possible prediction of the expected amount
of intermarriage for each group in terms of the three independent variables, namely, length
of residence, surplus males and size of the " origin " group.
In computing the correlation, the proportion of exogamous marriages among males of
each origin was taken as the dependent variable. Data for all European peoples except
the Bulgarians and Greeks were used, making 20 cases in all. The Greeks and Bulgarians
were omitted, because the extremely large proportions of surplus males would exercise an
undue influence and distort the result. Only white stocks were included, for the colour
barrier places the Negroes, Indians and Orientals in a class by themselves.
The value R = + -76 was obtained for the multiple coefficient and suitable tests were
applied to prove its reliability. The coefficient is quite large and demonstrates that length
of residence, surplus males and size of the population combine to exert a very important
influence on the proportion of males who have intermarried'; and what is of equal importance,
it incidentally makes clear that these three factors of themselves are by no means adequate
to account for the entire spread between the figures for the several stocks. There is a
residuum which must be explained in terms of physical, psychological, social and other
peculiarities associated with the various groups. This will be elaborated in due course.
The regression equation is as follows —
Xi = 1-37X2 + 0-I2Xs — 15- lOX-j — 46-56.
Where Xi.= the percentage of married males in a given stock who have intermarried.
X2 = the percentage of the stock North American born.
X3 = the surplus males per 100 females (21 years and over) .
X4 = the percentage which the adults of each origin constitute of the total
adult population of Canada.
The equation reveals several interesting facts; first, other things being equal, an addition
of one p.c. in the percentage North American born increases the expected proportion of males
intermarrying 1-37 p.c, and an addition of one p.c. in the surplus of adult males increases
intermarriage 0-12 p.c. As was suggested above the influence of both, increasing length of
residence and an excess of males is to raise the proportion of men marrying outside their
own stock.
A second point of interest is that a difference of one p.c. in the percentage of North
American born is between 11 and 12 times more important from the point of view of the
proportion of males intermarrying than a similar percentage difference in the surplus of
males (21 years of age and over).
In the third place it is made clear by the equation that other things being equal the
larger the group the less marked is the tendency to intermarry. An increase of one p*.
in ithe proportion that the adults of a given origin constitute of the total adult population
of Canada exerts a negative influence on intermarriage many times greater than the com-
bined influence of an increase of one p.c. in the proportion North American born and one
p.c. in the surplus 06 males.
Of course the chances of a change of one p.c. are by no means equal in the three cases.
A more definite idea of their actual importance under the conditions existing in 1921 is
obtained by substituting the standard deviations of X2, X3 and X4, respectively, in the
regression equation. It is found that fluctuations which actually occurred in the percentage
North American born had an influence on fluctuations in intermarriage over three times
greater than had differences in the proportions of surplus males. Similarly, the size of the
group, though a third less important than length of residence, was twice as potent as sex
distribution in determining the deviations of the proportions of males intermarrying from
74422—9
130
ORIGINS AND INTERMARRIAGE IN THE REGISTRATION AREA
the figure for . the average group. One finds also that the combined positive influence of
length of residence and surplus of males was a little over twice as great as was the negative
influence of large numbers.
By substituting values for X2, X3 and X4 in the above equation for each of the specified
stocks (using data given in Columns 3, 4 and 5 of Table 70) the expected value of Xi was
computed for each group. These are plotted in Chart 28 and the several points are con-
nected by straight lines. The actual values of Xi, as given in Column 1, Table 70, are also
indicated on the chart and attention is directed to their distribution and its significance. .
In the light of length of residence (as shown by percentage North American born),
percentage surplus males and the size of the group in Canada, the expected percentage of
intermarriage for the men of Swedish origin was 25 p.c; the actual amount which had
occurred was 45 p.c, a proportion four-ififths greater than expectation. On the other hand,
the expected percentage of intermarriage for the men of Ukrainian origin was 20 p-c.; the
actual only 9 p.c. or less than half the expected. Of the 20 stocks, 19 are listed below, with
the actual amount of intermarriage expressed as a percentage of the computed expectation
in ,each case. The twentieth is the Hebrew stock, and as the expected rate in this case
worked out to practically zero, to express the 4 p.c. which actually occurred as a percentage
of expectation would be meaningless.
Hank
Origin
Actual
intermarriage
as percentage
of expected
(for males)
1 .
p.c.
538
2
176
3
173
4
127
5 •.
109
6
102
7
101
8
08
9
97
10
92
11 .
89
89
88
Polish
74
58
53
17
50
18
48
39
The reason the coefficient of correlation was not higher than + -76 is made evident by
the above table. For many of the peoples the actual amount of intermarriage was con-
siderably in excess of the expected; for others, the actual rate fell1 far short of expectation:.
Thus length of residence, sex distribution and numerical strength combined, are not adequate
to account for the behaviour of the different stocks in' respect of intermarriage. The per-
formance of many of the groups differs very considerably from what' was anticipated. The
question naturally arises as to why this should be so, and in seeking an answer one finds it
necessary to pass from the realm of extraneous and more or less accidental causes to a
consideration of influences m'ore intimately associated with hereditary and cultural
characteristics of the various stocks. Indeed there could be no more conclusive proof
that peculiarities of the different origin groups aTe of major importdhce in the matter of
assimilation than the fact that these external factors are not adequate to account for the
behaviour of the data.
What then are the differences in terms of which an explanation must be found? There
are many types and only a few of the principal ones will be mentioned.
(1) Physiological. — This, coupled with associated psychological implications, oocurs
first to the mind of the biologist when the term " stock " is mentioned. Indeed the connota-
tion of the word is often confined to such characteristics. We have seen that between stocks
of different colour such barriers are of major importance. How important physical differences
ACTUAL AND EXPECTED INTERMARRIAGE
131'
Chart XXVIII
ACTUAL PERCENTAGEop INTERMARRIAGEfciRCLEsiCOMPAREDwiiH
PERCENTAGES PREDICTED cmUd line) from CONDITIONS of E XCE SS
ofMALES, NORTH AMERICAN BIRTH ano SIZE of ORIGIN GROUPS
5 I
i I
< < <
i i 3
Jj UJ 3
a 2
tc
E
" •*
z
-as
-80
- 75
- 70
-SS
- 60
-SS
-SO
-*s-
-3S-
. 30-
i <>
O ACTUAL
A
—
PRED
ICTEC
>
' (
<
>
-25-
<
>
■ 20-
- 16-
<
)
<
<
- 10-
<
<
- •> -
J <
i
(
-■o J"
are in arresting intermarriage between the white stocks is a matter of opinion. They
certainly exist, but there appears to be no method of isolating or measuring their influence.
(2) Social and Cultural.— One may include under this heading the general manner of
life, social standards and ideals, customs and religions, etc. For some stocks these are very
similar to those obtaining in Canada, and in such cases assimilation by intermarriage is
comiparatively easy. For others, differences of this sort raise allmost, insuperable barriers
which can only be lowered by a long and tedious process, for the simple reason that inter-
marriage, the most potent agency of destroying them, tends to be precluded by their very
existence.
(4) Occupational— While occupation is not properly a characteristic of particular stocks, '
Canadian experience provides many illustrations of groups following certadn occupations
almost exclusively, and doing grades of work which the dominant stocks of Canada either
avoid or are forced to relinquish. Occupational segregation is invariably a hindrance to
intermarriage.
7M22-91
132 ORIGINS AND INTERMARRIAGE IN THE REGISTRATION AREA
(5) Rural and Urban Distribution.— -This is to some extent a matter of " origin ", using
the term, of course, in its broad sense. Certain- groups, as we find them in Canada at least,
are essentially urban and others are predominantly rural. Special reference will be made to
this factor in the subsequent discussion.
(6) Segregation— The herd instinct is much more highly developed with some of the
foreign stocks in' Canada than with others. It is in evidence among rural people as well as
among urban. By merely reducing the chance of meeting and mixing with other people,
it is a great hindrance to intermarriage, and, when coupled with social and cultural
characteristics incompatible with Canadian ideas, it is a barrier of the first importance.
' Returning now to the table showing the extent to which the various stocks under review
had measured up to expectation in respect to intermarriage, let us first note those at the
top and those at the bottom of the list, and then see what light is thrown on the subject
by such of the differences as are capable of statistical treatment.
In 7 cases, out of 19 the amount of intermarriage up to 1921 exceeded expectation. All
of those groups, except the Czechoslovaks, are North Western Europeans. With the excep-
tion of the Dutch and. Icelanders, those showing percentages less than. 100 are South, Eastern
and Central Europeans. The broad statement is justified that those of North Western
European origin, as presently located in Canada, are distinctly more amenable to assimi-
lation by marriage with other stocks, while with the South, Eastern and Central Europeans
assimilation is abnormally difficult.
Moreover, these differences in assimilability are of no mean order. Confining attention
to foreign stocks of numerical importance in Canada, one finds that intermarriage for the
'Swedes and Danes exceeded the expected amount by 75 p.c; that for the Austrians fell
short by 42 p.c, and the. figure for the Ukrainians was 61 p.c. below expectation. From
75 p.c. above expectations to 61 p.c. below is a wide spread, and denotes a great gulf between
such important groups as the Swedes and Ukrainians in respect to assimilability by inter-
marriage with other peoples in Canada.
When the several stocks are arranged in linguistic groups some interesting facts appear.
Origin
Scandinavian —
Swedish
Danish
Norwegian
Ioelandic
Germanic —
Belgian
German
Dutch
Latin and Greek —
Italian
Roumanian
Slavic —
Czechoslovak..
Russian
Serbo-Croatian
Polish
Austrian
Ukrainian
Actual
intermarriage
as percentage
of expected
(for males)
176
173
101
48
538
109
89
102
74
58
39
All of Scandinavian and Germanic extraction .except the Icelandic and Dutch show
percentages above expectation (100 p.c.) ; all the Latin and Greek and Slavic peoples except
the Czechoslovaks show percentages below. This seems to be conclusive evidence of the
existence of differences as between the groups of stocks in regard to assimilability by inter-
marriage with other stocks in Canada. For the first two, racial characteristics and geogra-
phical distribution favour intermarriage and in several cases to a very marked degree; for
the lattter two they are unfavourable and for a number of important origins notably so.
Segregation. — The exceptional cases call for comment. Three of them, namely, the
[celanders, Ukrainians and Dutch, are splendid illustrations of the influence of segregation.
RELATION OF SEGREGATION TO INTERMARRIAGE 133
In Chapter IV dt was pointed out that the bulk of the Scandinavians and Ukrainians are
found in the western provinces, consequently a survey of their distribution in Manitoba,
Saskatchewan and Alberta is adequate for our purpose.
Of all those of foreign origin in the Prairie Provinces, the Icelanders and Ukrainians
show the greatest tendency to rural segregation. In Manitoba, 55 p.c. of the Icelanders
are in one out of the 15 electoral districts existing in 1921 ; in Saskatchewan, 65 p.c. in
one out of 16; in Alberta, though their numbers aTe comparatively small, a total of 55 p.c,
are in two out of 12 electoral districts. The Ukrainians are much more numerous than the
Icelanders in each of the three provinces and there are more cases of segregation. In-
Manitoba, 80 p.c. of this group is found in five electoral distracts, in Saskatchewan 41 p.c,
in one and S3 p.c. in five, and in Alberta 55 p.c. in one and 79 p.o, jin two out of the
dozen districts in that province. When the analysis is carried to the smaller districts within
the electoral areas, the tendency to segregate is even more marked. For example, 87 p.c. of
the Ukrainians in Census Division I of Manitoba are located in 'one- subdistrict of which
they constitute 77 p.c. of the population. In Census Divisions 5, 12 and 13 totals of 79 p.c,
85 p.c. and 89 p.c. respectively are found in three of the subdistricts in each division.
Similar cases occur in Saskatchewan and Alberta.
A comparison of the Icelanders and the other Scandinavians throws further light on the
subject. In Manitoba and Saskatchewan, the Icelanders show as high proportions as 55 p.c.
and 65 p.c. of their number in one electoral district; 23 p.c. is the highest figure shown for
any of the other three Scandinavian peoples and that is for the Norwegians, for whom actual
intermarriage exceeded expectation by the smallest percentage. The behaviour of the
different stocks in the Scandinavian group furnishes additional confirmation of the thesis
that segregation is an important influence in preventing intermarriage.
The case of the Dutch provides a further illustration. There were about as many
Dutch in the three Prairie Provinces as in Ontario. In Ontario they were widely scattered,
but in Manitoba 64 p.c. were found in one and 76 p.c. in two electoral districts, and in
Saskatchewan 38 p.c. in one. In Alberta they are more evenly divided. The figure for the
Dutch is only moderately below the expected amount of intermarriage, which seems to
be consistent with their segregating in two provinces and failing to do so in the others.
The Mennonites called themselves Dutch in 1921, and it is in the districts where Mennonites
are settled that segregation appears.
That segregation is an important influence may be illustrated in another way by the
data for those of Dutch origin. The tendency to segregate becomes less marked in passing
from Manitoba west. If segregation is an important influence one would expect a smaller
percentage of intermarriage for the Dutch in the province of Manitoba than in Saskatchewan
and in Saskatchewan than Alberta. The Annual report on Vital Statistics for 1925 shows
the origin of parents of children born in that year. In Manitoba, 19 p.c. of the Dutch
fathers had married into other stocks; 32 p.c. in Saskatchewan and 57 p.c. in Alberta.
Segregation is not the sole explanation of these differences, but is probably a significant one.
Passing to the Czechoslovaks, it is not surprising that they exceeded expectation in
respect to the amount of intermarriage, while other people from South, -Eastern and,
Central Europe fell short. Czechs are quite different from the Russians, Austrians, Poles
and Ukrainians, and appear to be much more easily assimilated.
The influence of city as opposed to country residence on intermarriage is difficult to
demonstrate, as the rural and urban distribution of the various " origin " groups in
Canada is not conveniently available. Other things being equal, however, people who
congregate in cities would be expected to intermarry more than those who prefer rural
life and follow rural occupations. On this basis, one would expect intermarriage for the
Italians to far exceed expectation, because they show much larger percentages in larger
cities. The failure to do so may be attributed, at least in part to the marked tendency
to segregate in large cities or quarters — a tendency which also characterizes the Hebrew
and other stocks.
A similar examination of the data for other stocks, furnishes conclusive evidence' that
segregation is much less marked than in the case of those stocks which are backward in
134 ORIGINS AND INTERMARRIAGE IN THE REGISTRATION AREA
the matter of intermarriage. It is not a coincidence that those who segregate most, fall
furthest short of expectation in intermarriage.
Data are available in the census which could be used to throw considerable light on
the relation between1 origin, religion and intermarriage, but the purpose in this chapter is
not primarily to examine the various characteristics which are favourable and unfavourable
to assimilation. Important as are these considerations, such detailed analysis is beyond
the scope of this report. Attention, however, has been given to the influence of segregation
partly bcause of its importance and partly by way of explaining certain exceptional results.
The principal purpose of this section has been to demonstrate that aside from the extraneous
influence of length of residence, sex distribution and numerical strength, particular stocks
differ very radically in assimilability by intermarriage with the other stocks in Canada.
ASSIMILABILITY WITH THE BRITISH
In the previous section an attempt was made to demonstrate that the " origin " groups
differ in respect to ease of assimilation by marriage with other stocks in general. This
section has to do with their assimilability with the British stocks in particular. In the.
discussion of the general question of assimilation, it was necessary to eliminate more or
less extraneous influences before the intrinsic differences could be isolated and studied.
It is possible, however, to secure in a very simple manner what might be termed' an index
of comparative assimilability with a single stock like the British. This may be best illus-
trated by an example. According to the figures for 1921, 82 p.c. of the Dutch males who
married outside their group married British wives, but only 12-6 p.c. of the Austrian men
who intermarried chose mates of British origin.
What exactly is implied in these figures? In the first place the difference is only slightly
influenced by length of residence, because the percentages are taken of those who actually
married outside. It is true that length of residence is eloseily connected with the amount of
intermarriage which has taken place at any given time, but correlation makes it clear that
it has a very moderate influence on the proportion of those who married into the British •
rather than into the other stocks. The coefficient of correlation by method of rank differ-
ences with the percentage North America born was only + -21. Sex distribution was found
to be even less closely related, and it is difficult to trace any connection between
the proportion of those marrying outside their stock who married ,British and the
numerical strength of the group in Canada. These three more or less extraneous factors,
which were given prominence in discussing the general problem of intermarriage, may be
considered as of minor consequence in investigating the present aspect of the problem of
assimilation.
It is necessary at this point to raise the question as to what proportion of exogamous
marriages should be contracted with the British on the basis of mere chance. In no province
in the Registration Area was there less than '50 p.c. of the population of British origin.
Consequently, assuming no discrimination against the British as compared with the other
stocks and assuming no discrimination on the part of the British against any foreign stock,
at least 50 p.c. of those of each foreign origin, who married outside their group might be
expected to have taken mates of British stock. Now, when a group shows so small a per-
centage as 12-6 p.c. in the face of an expected rate of at least 50 p.c, the inference is that
one of two things interfered. Either hereditary barriers stood in the way or there was a
lack of opportunity of meeting the British because of segregation, or both. As was pointed
out above, even the tendency to segregation is largely a matter of " origins". It would
seem, then, that the percentages of the several groups marrying out who married into the
British stocks may be regarded as a very fair indication of relative assimilability with the
British, under existing conditions of geographical distribution.
It should be kept clearly in mind that these percentages do mot constitute an absolute
measure of assimilability. To get an absolute index one would have to take into con-
sideration the proportion of the total married who married British, and follow a procedure
similar to that in the last subsection. Perhaps this may be made clearer as follows: — Total
intermarriage may be either large or small without affecting the percentage of those crossing
ASSIMILABILITY WITH THE BRITISH
135
the lines of their own stock who marry into Anglo-Saxon stock. The index 'here con-
sidered compares the barriers to marriage with the British with those to marriage with all
other Stock, including among such barriers those arising out of the territorial distribution of
the population as at the date of the last census. The data on which the analysis is based
are presented in Tables 71 and 72.
A cursory examination of the foregoing tables will be adequate to show that there is
wide variation not only in the proportions of men and women who had married outside
their respective " origin " groups, but also in the percentages of those who had married into
the British stocks. Taking first the men as shown in Table 71, while 74 pjc. of the Danes
had married outside their own stock, and 46 p.c. of these had married women of British
origin, only 7-5 p.c. of the Ukrainians had married outside that "origin" group, and of those
less than 9 p.c. married women of British origin. Or compare the Icelanders and Swedes.
More than half the Swedes had married' into other stocks, and almost half of these had
married British. On the other hand, fewer than a fifth of the Icelanders had married outside
their own stock, but of those who had done so, over three-quarters married women of British
origin. The Finns do not mix, from the marriage standpoint, with any other stock. Only
a tenth of the Galicians had contracted mixed marriages, and of these less than a twentieth
married British.
Quite as diverse examples may be found in Table 72 giving the same data for the
women. Half the Dutch women had intermarried, and four-fifths of them had married men
of British stock. The Danes, Norwegians, Swedes and Swiss show similarly high percentages.
Yet only a tenth of the Greek women had intermarried, and scarcely a tenth of these
married men of British origin. Two and a half p.c. of the Jewish women had married
outside the Jewish stock. Roughly, a quarter of that two and a half p.c. had married British.
If the peoples in Tables 71 and 72 be arranged in rank, according to the percentages of
mixed marriages which had been contracted with men and women of British origin, and also
grouped according to colour, original geographical habitat and language, a clear idea will
be given as to the differences between the " origin ". groups in this regard.
TABLE 71— NUMBER AND PERCENTAGES OF MARRIED MEN MARRIED TO WIVES OF DIFFERENT
ORIGINS, AND THE PROPORTION OF THOSE WHO MARRIED INTO BRITISH STOCKS.
(As indicated by parentage of children born in the Registration Area in 1921).
Origin
(i)
Number
of married
men
(2)
Number
married
outside
their origin
group
(3)
Number
married to
British
(4)
Per cent
col. (2)
of (1)
(5)
Per cent
col. (3) of
col. (2)
37
2,765
517
68
295
197
360
1,434
368
17,908
869
7,563
189
362
448
610
2,162
618
1,554
338
1,313
1,663
604
2,202
112
1,161
190
194
2,564
11
294
146
33
21
•68
267
760
34
2,703
91
1,872
97
52
75
61
418
10
65
24
542
333
142
502
37
518
140
58
192
5
37
49
16
10
19
124
623
15
2,199
4
1,273
52
7
59
• 27
240
6
25
13
297
60
20
97
10
250
70
28
17
29-7
10-6
28-2
48-5
7-1
34-5
74-2
53-0
9-2
15-1
10-5
24-8
51 3
14-4
16-7
10-0
19-3
1-6
4-2
7-1
41-3
20-0
23-5
22-8
330
44-6
73-7
29-9
7-5
45-5
12-6
33-6
48-5
47-6
27-9
46-4
Dutch
82-0
44-1
81-4
4-4
68-0
53-6
13-5
78-7
44-3
57-4
60-0
38-4
54-2
54-8
Polish
180
14-1
19-3
27-0
48-3
50-0
48-3
8-9
13b ORIGINS AND INTERMARRIAGE IN THE REGISTRATION AREA
™*LE 72.— NUMBER AND PERCENTAGES OF MARRIED WOMEN MARRIED TO HUSBANDS OT?
DIFFERENT ORIGIN, AND THE PROPORTION OF THOSE WHO MARRIED INTO BRITISH STOCK
(As indicated by parentage of children born in the Registration Area in 1921)
Origin
Armenian
Austrian
Belgian
Bulgarian
Chinese
Czechoslovak..
Danish
Dutch
Finnish
French
Galician
German
Greek
Hungarian
Icelandic
Indian
Italian.^
Japanese
Jewish
Negro
Norwegian
Polish
Roumanian
Russian....
Serbo-Croatian
Swedish
Swiss
Syrian
Ukrainian
(1)
Number
of married
women
30
,873
622
37
277
231
246
,371
401
858
877
833
103
403
528
714
789
609
528
366
384
645
594
064
91
175
134
145
570
(2)
Number
married
outside
origin
group
4
402
151
2
3
102
153
697
67
3,653
99
2,142
11
93
155
165
45
1
39
52
613
315
132
364
16
532
84
9
204
(3)
Number
married to
British
1
45
59
0
1
26
97
522
20
2,751
3
1,470
1
■ '20
114
62
25
0
11
2
321
64
7
76
4
290
50
4
11
(4)
Per cent
col. (2) of
col. (1)
13-3
14-0
28-9
5-4
11
44-2
62-2
50-8
16-7
19-4
11-3
27-3
10-7
23-2
29-4
23-1
2-5
2-6
14-2
44-3
191
22-2
17-6
17-6
45-3
62-7
6-2
7-7
(5)
Per cent
col. (3) of
col. (2)
25-0
11-1
39-1
33-3
25-5
63-4
79-2
29-9
75-8
30-3
68-6
9-1
21-5
73-6
37-6
65-6
28-2
3-8
52-3
20-3
5-3
20-9
25-0
54-5
59-5
44-5
5-6
TABLE "-PERCENTAGES OF MIXED MARRIAGES CONTRACTED WITH MEN AND WOMEN OF
BRITISH ORIGIN, ARRANGED IN DESCENDING ORDER OF MAGNITUDE
. (As indicated by parentage of children born in the Registration Area in 1921)
Origin
Dutch
N.
N
N
N.
s.
NT.
E.
-NT.
N
N.
E.
E.
Polish
E.
E.
E.
E.
Men
r, (1)
Per cent
married
outside
to total
married
53-0
151
16-7
24-8
1-6
19-3
41-3
71
51-3
73-7
48-5
44-6
29-9
7-1
74-2
29-7
10-0
9-2
4-2
28-2
34-5
330
22-8
20-0
23-5
14-4
10-6
7-5
10-5
„ (2)
Per cent
of col. (1)
married
into
British
stocks
82-0
81-4
78-7
68-0
60-0
57-4
54-8
54-2
53-6
500
48-5
48-3
48-3
47-6
46-4
45-5
44-3
44-1
34-8
33-6
27-9
270
19-3
18-0
14-1
13-5
12-6
8-9
4-4
Origin
Dutch N.
French N.
Icelandic N.
German N.
Danish N.
Swiss N,
Italian S.
Swedish ; N.
Norwegian N.
Syrian
Belgian N.
Indian
Chinese
Galician E.
Finnish N.E.
Jewish
Czechoslovak : E.
Serbo-Croatian E.
Armenian E.
Hungarian E.
Russian E.
Polish E.
Austrian E.
Greek S.
Ukrainian E.
Roumanian E.
Negro
Bulgarian E.
Women
„ (1)
Per cent
married
outBide
to total
married
50-8
10-4
29-4
27-3
62-2
62-7
2-5
45-3
44-3
6-2
28-9
23-1
11
11-3
16-7
2-6
44-2
17-6
13-3
231
17-6
19-1
140
10-7
7-7
22-2
14-2
5-4
0-2
Note.— N— North and Western European. E— Eastern and Central European. S— Southern European.
„<2)
Per cent
of col. (1)
married
into
British
stocks
79-2
75-3
73-5
68-6
63-4
59-5
55-6
54-5
52-4
44-5
391
37-6
33-3
30-3
29-9
28-2
25-5
250
25-0
21-5
20-9
20-3
11-2
91
5-6
5-3
3-8
0
0
MIXED MARRIAGES WITH BRITISH STOCK
137
The capital letters in the above table indicate roughly the part of Europe from which
the different peoples come. The predominance of ' N's ', signifying Northern Europe, in the
upper half of the table where the percentages of those intermarried with the British stocks
are high, is as significant as is the predominance of ' E's ' for Eastern and Central Europe in
the lower part of the table. The inference is very clear. The people from South, Central
and Eastern Europe, not only have not intermarried as much as those from North Western
Europe, but those who have intermarried, with one or two exceptions, have not married to
any great extent into the British stocks. This important fact is presented more clearly in
Table 74 below.
In the North Western European group, over one-third of both men and women had
intermarried and from 64 p.c. to 65 p.c. of these had married into stocks of British origin.
By way of contrast, the South, Eastern and Central Europeans had intermarried onJy to the
extent of from 13-5 p.c. (women) to 16-2 p.c. (men), and of these smaller percentages,
roughly from a fifth to a quarter had married men and women of British extraction. It is
obvious that the North Western Europeans in Canada are several times more easily
assimilated with the British stocks than are the South, Central and Eastern Europeans.
TABLE 74— PER CENT OF MIXED MARRIAGES CONTRACTED BY CONTINENTAL EUROPEANS WITH
MEN AND WOMEN OF BRITISH ORIGIN, BY GEOGRAPHICAL GROUPING.
(As indicated by parentage of children born in the Registration Area in 1921)
Men
Women
Origin
r, (1)
Per cent
married
outside
to total
married
(2)
Per cent
of col. fl)
married
into
British
stocks
(1)
Per cent
married
outside
to total
■ married
(2)
Per cent
of col. (1)
married
into
British
stocks .
North Western European — \
28-2
74-2
53-0
24-8
16-7
41-3
44-6
73-7
33-6
46-4
82-0
68-0
78-7
548
48 3
50-0
28-9
62-2
50-8
27-3
29-4
44-3
45-3
62-7
391
63-4
' Dutch
79-2
68-6
73-5
52-3
54-5
59-5
Total :
33-3
63-6
34-3
65-2
South, Eastern and Central European —
10-6
48-5
34-5
9-2
10-5
51-3
14-4
19-3
20-0
23-5
22-8
33-0
7-5
12-6
48-5 ■
27-9
44-1
4-4
53-6
13-5
57-4
180
141
19-3
27-0
8-9
14-0
5-5
44-2
16-7
11-3
10-7
23-0
2-5
191
22-2
17-6
17-7
7-8
11-2
•0
25-5
29-9
30-3
9-1
21-5
55-6
Polish
20-3
5-3
20-9
25-0
5-6
Total
16-2
26-4
13-5
16-9
Table 75 presents the data for the Continental Europeans by linguistic divisions. A
careful study of this table will repay the reader. Suffice it to say that the preference of the
Germanic and Scandinavian peoples for the British (or the preference of the British for
them) is brought out clearly, as well as the existence of' unusual resistance to intermarriage
between those of Latin and Greek and Slavic origin and the British.
A very small proportion of the non-whites cross the colour line in marriage. When
they do, the extent to which they marry inito stocks of British origin varies. It ia significant
that in all cases the percentage of men crossing the colour line who married into the
138 ORIGINS AND INTERMARRIAGE IN THE REGISTRATION AREA
British stocks was larger than obtained for the non-white women. (See Table 76.) It is
questionable whether the terms " assimilation " or " assimilability " should be applied in
respect of intermarriage between the whites and non-whites.
TABLE 75— PER CENT OF MIXED MARRIAGES, BY LINGUISTIC GROUPING, CONTRACTED BY
CONTINENTAL EUROPEANS WITH MEN AND WOMEN OF BRITISH ORIGIN.
(As indicated by parentage of children born in the Registration Area in 1921.)
Men
Women
Origin
(1)
Per cent
married
outside
to total
married
(2)
Per cent
of col. (1)
married
into
British
stocks
(1)
Per cent
married
outside
to total
married
(2)
Per cent
of col. (1)
married
into
British
stocks
Germanic—
Dutch
53-0
28-2
24-8
82-0
33-G
68-0
50-8
28-9
27-3
79-2
39-1
68-6
Total
- 20-2
70-0
30-8
69-6'
Scandinavian—
16-7
41-3
44-6
74-2
78-7
54-8
48-3
46-4
29-4
44-3
45-3
62-2
73-5
52-3
54-5
63-4
Total :
42-7
' 52-1
43-0
56-6
Latin and Greek —
51-3
19-3
23-5
52-6
57-4
14-1
10-7
2-5
22-2
9-1
55-6
5-3
22-2
47-4
7-6
17-8
Slavic —
10-6
48-5
34-5
10-5
20-0
22-8
330
7-5
12-6
48-5
27-9
4-4
18-0
19-3
27-0
8-9
14-0
5-5
44-2
11-3
19-1
17-6-
17-6
7-7
11-2
0-0
25-5
30-3
20-3
20-9
25 0
5-6
Total
14-8
16-8
14-4
15-3
TABLE 76.— INTERMARRIAGE BETWEEN NON-WHITES AND THOSE OF BRITISH STOCKS.
(As indicated by parentage of children born in the Registration Area in 1921.)
Men
Women
Origin
^ (1)
Per cent
married to
women of
different
stocks
(2)
Per cent
of col. (1)
married to
women of
British
stocks
(i)
Per cent
married to
men of
different
stocks
(2)
Per cent
of col. (1)
married to
men of
British
stocks
1-6
7-1
10-0
71
60-0
47-6
44-3
54-2
0-2
1-0
231
14-2
0-0
33-3
37-6
3-8
THE EXTENT TO WHICH CONTINENTAL EUROPEAN STOCKS HAVE MARRIED
WITHIN THEIR OWN GEOGRAPHICAL GROUPS
For those of European origin who have not married1 to a great extent either into the
French or British stocks in Canada, it is of interest to discover into what stocks they do
marry when they, intermarry with other peoples. The following table presents a summary
for the North Western and South. Eastern and Central European groups.
MIXED MARRIAGES WITH RELATED STOCKS
139
TABLE 77— PERCENTAGE OF MARRIED MEN AND WOMEN OF CONTINENTAL EUROPEAN STOCKS
WHO HAD CONTRACTED MIXED MARRIAGES, AND PERCENTAGE OF THESE CONTRACTED
WITH PEOPLES FROM THE SAME PART OF EUROPE.
(As indicated by percentage of children born in the Registration Area in 1921).
Men
Women
Origin
CD
Per cent
of total
married
outside
their own
stock
• (2)
Per cent of
Column (D
married
into stocka
of same
geographical
group
„ (1)
Per cent
of total
married
outside
their own
stock
(2)
Per cent of
Column (1)
married
into stocks
of same
geographical
group
33-3
16-2
16-9
39-8
34-3
13-5
14-2
52-2
1 British and French not included.
With the North Western group, over 30 p.c, of the men and women had married
outside their respective stocks, and only about 15 p.c. of these had married into races from
the section of Europe from which they came. In striking contrast, those in the South,
Eastern and Central European group show less than half the amount of marriage outside
their individual stocks and between 40 and 50 p.c. of that smaller amount has been with
people coming from the same part of Continental Europe. This fact is very significant.
This concludes the analysis of the data on intermarriage, but there is one further point
which should be mentioned. Little has been said of the proportions of those of British and
French origin who have intermarried. They are the numerically dominant stocks in Canada.
The extent of their intermarriage with those of other origins is limited by their over-
•whelming numbers. But in addition to that, -aversion to intermarriage with certain stocks
would also be an important factor in keeping the percentage low. The British and French
themselves may block the assimilation by marriage of certain peoples and sometimes t!he
onus of. preventing intermarriage may rest primarily on the native Canadian stock. It is
a matter of indifference, however, whether foreign stocks fail to marry with the British and
French because of aversion on their own part or on the part of the British and French, or
indeed for any other reason whatever except length of residence. The result is the same
60 far as Canadian population structure is concerned. Such stocks are inassimilable in
Canada by marriage, and the preceding analysis suggests that there are many approaching
that class.
CHAPTER VII
THE NATURALIZATION OF IMMIGRANT PEOPLES
THE PROPORTION OF FOREIGN BORN NATURALIZED IN CANADA IN 1921
Naturalization does not mean "Ganadianization". It merely signifies the intention of
the immigrant to make a more or less permanent home in Canada and the desire to 6hare
in determining the country's political destiny. Whether the influence of the newly natural-
ized immigrant -will be to the best interest of Canada and whether he will be able to use
the franchise wisely, is determined by many forces of far greater importance than the mere
act of swearing allegiance to the adopted country and receiving thereupon the full rights
and responsibilities of citizenship. Indeed it is quite possible for naturalization, when carried
out prematurely, to be an actual menace to Canada's democratic ideals as well as to her
political and social institutions.
However, the mere fact that an immigrant wishes to become a citizen is an assurance of
his permanent interest in the country, and may normally be taken as an indication that the
assimilative process has proceeded to a moderate extent at least. The fact of naturalization
is indicative of an attitude towards the country very different from that of the immigrant
who .shows no desire to take out naturalization papers. Other things being equal, therefore,
immigrants from those countries and of those stocks which are readily naturalized are to be
preferred as settlers to those among whom naturalization is unduly delayed, or among whom
naturalization is the exception rather than the rule.
This chapter analyses the extent to which naturalization has progressed among the
different types of immigrants, examines the causes of the differences and compares the various
nationalities as to the speed with which naturalization has taken place. The study, of
course, includes only foreign born; those born in Great Britain or in other dominions or
dependencies of the Empire are not required to " take out papers ".
It might be well before proceeding with the analysis to mention a few of the general
provisions of the Canadian naturalization laws which should be kept in mind in reading this
chapter. First, if the head of the family is naturalized, the children under 21 years of age
automatically become Canadian citizens. Second, if the husband is naturalized, the wife is
automatically a citizen. Third, if the head of the family immigrates into Canada unaccom-
panied and afterwards becomes naturalized, the wife and dependants under 21 become
naturalized on arrival in Canada. Fourth, if a Canadian woman marries an alien, she
becomes an alien. Five years' residence is required of those applying for naturalization.
Table 78 shows the percentages naturalized of the foreign, born by country of birth.
The percentages measure the extent to which naturalization had taken place' by 1921 ; and
in so far as naturalization is an index of political assimilation the percentages, when
compared one with another, indicate the relative degrees to which that process had
advanced in the different groups of immigrant peoples up to that date.
The outstanding fact in Table 78 is the remarkable difference between the various immi-
grants. At the top stand the Icelanders with 86-4 p.c'. naturalized; at the bottom are the
Chinese with only 4-8 p.c. With percentages varying between such wide limits, the pro-
portions naturalized of immigrants from 25 other foreign countries are arranged in order.
Along with the Orientals at the bottom of the list are the Greeks and the Italians. The
Scandinavians and Germans are at the top, where also are found the Hungarians.
Lest it be thought that inclusion of women and children who are ipso facto naturalized
when the husband or father takes out Canadian citizenship has an appreciable effect on the
rank of the nationalities as shown in Table 78, a second table is presented (Table 79) which
shows the proportions naturalized of foreign born male immigrants over 21 years of age
140
PROPORTION NATURALIZED AMONG FOREIGN BORN POPULATION 141
for the several countries of birth. The order of the different nationalities is practically the
same in the two tables. In fact the identity is so close that the rank coefficient of corre-
lation works out to the high figure of + -98. There are only three marked excep-
tions out of the 27 countries. Syria moves up four places in Table 79 and France moves
up three, while Jugo-Slavia moves down three ranks. The dose correspondence
between the percentages naturalized, as shown in the two tables for Syria and France,
respectively, reveals the fact that these two exceptions are purely incidental. Not only is
the somewhat lower proportion of males over 21 naturalized among the Jugo-Slavs
unimportant because of their small ouinbers, but the disturbing influence of the dower
figure on the averages discussed in the succeeding tables is insignificant. Thus, after removing
the influence of children and married females, the relative progress of the different nationalities
in the matter of naturalization is practically the same as when both sexes and all ages are
included. We will proceed then to a further examination of Table 78, keeping in mind that-
the conclusions reached apply to adult males as well as to the .whole population, including
women and children.
TABLE 78— PERCENTAGE OF FOREIGN BORN NATURALIZED. FOR CANADA, 1921, BY COUNTRY
OF BIRTH.
Country of birth
Per cent
naturalized
Country of birth
Per cent
naturalized
86-4
72-3
71-7
67-4
65-9
65-3
63-3
62-4
60-6
59-4
58-4
56-3
55-7
55-2
54.7
Poland ■
Holland
51-0
48'4
46-0
424
33.7
33 '5
Italy
30-2
22-4
4-8
TABLE 79.-PERCENTAGE OF FOREIGN BORN MALES, 21 YEARS AND OVER, NATURALIZED,
FOR CANADA, 1921, BY COUNTRY OF BIRTH.
Country of birth
Per cent
naturalized
Country of birth
Per cent
naturalized
88-5
1 72-3
70-3
65-8
64-2
62-0
60-6
59-3
57-7
56-9
56-2
65-6
54-6
54-4
52-9
Holland
49-7
49*2
Poland
47*0
41-0
32-8
28-5
Italy
28*2
16-4
3-8
Table 80 classifies the Europeans by geographical groups. The percentage naturalized
for the average North Western European is considerably higher than that for the average
South, Eastern and Central European country. In the former case the percentages range
between 42-1 p.c. and 86-4 p.c, and in the latter between 22-4 p.c. and 72-3 p.c. Both the
upper and lower limits are higher for the North Western European group. Thus, in so
far as naturalization is an index, political assimilation has proceeded further in the case of
• 'the immigrants' from the average North Western European country than for those from the
average South, Eastern and 'Central European country.
142
THE NATURALIZATION OF IMMIGRANT PEOPLES
Yet with so wide a range within each group and with such marked overlapping, the con-
trast between North Western and South, Eastern and Central Europe, though valid on the
whole,, is unfair to certain groups of immigrants. While, for example, the percentages for
the Jugc-Slavs, Italians, Greeks and Bulgarians are below any of those for the North
Western Europeans, the proportions naturalized for many of the other countries in the
South, Eastern and Central group compare very favourably with those from the North
Western countries. The percentage for the Hungarians is larger than that for any North
Western European country except Iceland; the proportion of the Galicians naturalized is
almost as great as that of the Germans; those for the Russians, Roumanians, Austrians,
Czechs and Ukrainians are about on a par. with the centre group in the North Western section
of the Continent, and much higher than the percentage for the immigrants from Holland
and Belgium.
Table 81, which classifies the European countries by linguistic groups, further emphasizes
the danger of generalization. While it is safe to say that the Scandinavians as a group
have naturalized to a greater extent than the Latins and Greeks, one must keep in mind
that, unlike the immigrants from the south of, Europe, those from Roum&nia have become
Canadian citizens to an extent even more marked than the Danes. And when comparing
the Germanic and Slavic groups one cannot go much further than to state that the Germans
have shown a higher percentage than any of the Slavs, and that the Dutch and Flemish
have smaller proportions naturalized than the six Slavic countries from which the bulk of
our Eastern and Central European immigrants come.
The tables must be studied in detail, and the relative rank of each of the important
countries noted. Certain suggestions by way of explanation of the marked differences are
made below. A complete explanation of a high or low percentage is a most difficult matter,
but among the chief causes are probably biological and cultural differences in the people
from the various countries, occupational differences in this country (naturalization or
intention to naturalize being required of homesteaders), varying distribution as between
rural and urban districts, diverse proportions of males and females, and that most important
factor, differences in length of residence in Canada.
TABLE 80— PERCENTAGE OF EUROPEAN BORN NATURALIZED, BY GEOGRAPHICAL GROUPS, 1921.
Country of birth
Percentage
naturalized
Country of birth
Percentage
naturalized
North Western Europe —
p.o.
86-4
71-7
67-4
65-9
56-3
55-2
53-9
48-4
42-1
South, Eastern and Central Europe —
p.c.
72-3
65-3
62-4'
60-5
59-4
55-7
54-7
Holland
51-0
.45-7
33-7
Percentage for all North Western
62-7 '
Italy
30-2
29-3
22-4
Percentage for all South, Eastern
56-1
NATURALIZATION OF IMMIGRANTS FROM THE UNITED STATES 143
TABLE 81— PERCENTAGE OF EUROPEAN BORN NATURALIZED, BY LINGUISTIC GROUPS, 1921.
Groups and countries of birth
Percentage
naturalized
p.e.
86-4
71-7
67-4
56-3
69-7
65-9
48-4
42-1
56-5
Groups and countries of birth
Percentage
naturalized
Scandinavian —
Iceland
Norway
Sweden
Denmark
Average
Germanic —
Germany
Netherlands
Belgium
Average.
Latin and Greek —
Roumania
Italy
Greece
Average.
Slavic —
Galicia
Russia
Austria
Czechoslovakia
Ukraine
Poland
Jugo-Slavia
Bulgaria
Average.
60-5
30-2
29-3
41-3
65-3
62-4
59-4
55-7
54-7
51-0
33-7
22-4
59-9
NATURALIZATION AMONG IMMIGRANT PEOPLES FROM THE UNITED STATES
Data on the naturalization of the United States born immigrants are presented by origin
in Column 1 of Table 82 (p. 145) . Those of French origin show the highest proportion. This
fact is not unexpected, in view of the rather marked movement of the children of French
Canadian emigrants to the Eastern and Southern States back to the. Canadian soil, and
especially to the provinces of Quebec and New Brunswick. The IceJandic stock, with a
proportion of 73-4 p.c. naturalized, ranks second; and the Norwegians, Roumanians, British,
Swedish and Hungarians follow closely behind in the order named. The Greeks and Italians
again appear at the foot of the list.
But the significance of this table is not so much in the rank of the various stocks as
in a comparison between the United States born immigrants and the foreign immigrants
who come directly to Canada from their ancestral home, without a generation of residence
in the United States. Column 2 shows the percentage of the immigrant population natural-
ized in 1921 by countries of birth, corresponding to the specified origins. In a previous
chapter, the difficulties involved in comparing data of origin and country of birth data were
discussed, and the reader is recommended to refer again to page 68, Chapter HI, before
proceeding further.
Were the two columns of percentages strictly comparable, one would expect the United
States born to have assimilated to a much greater extent than those coming from other
foreign countries. A Swede, for instance, born and brought up in the United States,
attending the schools of the republic and speaking the English language, would seem much
more easily assimilated than one coming direct from Sweden, speaking a different language
and trained under a different educational system. Other things being equal, one would look
for the percentages in column 3 to be normally positive and of considerable magnitude.
That result obviously does not obtain in about half of the cases, and the problem presents
itself as to whether a generation pf residence in the United States is favourable or unfavour-
able to naturalization for immigrants of foreign stocks coming to Canada.
Table 83 Shows the differences, by linguistic groups, in the percentages naturalized of
United States born immigrants of European stocks and the percentages of immigrants
naturalized who have come direct from the countries corresponding to the specified origins.
It is pointed out that the percentages are negative for all the Scandinavians, which means
that a smaller percentage of the Scandinavians born in the United States and emigrated to
Canada have become Canadian citizens, than immigrants who have come direct from the
Scandinavian countries. The same remark applies to the Dutch and Germans in the
Germanic group and to the Austrians, Poles and Russians among the Slavs. It will be seen
also by referring to the previous table that negative percentages obtained in the cases of
the Hungarians, Swiss and Syrians. In the Latin and Greek group, on the other hand, those
144 THE NATURALIZATION OF IMMIGRANT PEOPLES
born in the United States appear to have naturalized to a greater extent than immigrants
from the corresponding countries in Europe. The same holds true for the Czechs, Serbo-
Croaitians and Ukrainians on the Slavic group, and for the Belgians and the Finns.
To the question as to whether a generation's residence in the United States for those
of foreign extraction is or is not favourable to naturalization, it is difficult to give any
categorical answer. The chief difficulties appear to be the following: — first, in certain cases
the figures for origins and countries of birth are not comparable without making great
allowances for admixtures of other stocks among the immigrants from the corresponding
countries of birth. A second important difficulty is in respect to date of arrival, for no
material is available showing the comparative length of residence for immigrants of the
various origins born in the United States and of those who have come direct from overseas.
Finally, there is in some cases a marked difference in the occupation followed by settlers
from across the water and those of the same origin from across the land frontier. An
examination of the figures in detail will illustrate the interplay of these factors.
The more recent nature of Scandinavian immigration from the United States is prob-
ably an important factor in explaining the negative .percentages for the Scandinavian group.
This applies with special force to the Icelanders, who, as a group, have been longer in
Canada than any other of the Scandinavian peoples. Then a large number of the
Scandinavians coming to Canada from the United States work in the lumber woods, in
contrast with the agricultural occupation* of those who come direct from the Scandinavian
peninsula. As compared with agriculture ihe work of a lumiber-jack is obviously compara-
tively unfavourable to naturalization.
As with the Scandinavians, it is also probable that there is a considerable spread between
the length of the time that the United States and European bora Dutch and Germans have
been in this country, which in some measure may account for the smaller percentage natur-
alized among the immigrants of those origins from across the line. Further, it is probable
that a larger percentage of those from the United States go to cities and pursue commercial
occupations than of those who come direct from Europe. Whether the atmosphere of, say,
Illinois is such as to predispose immigrants of German extraction from .that state to
assimilate readily in Canada is a further matter for consideration.
It is not surprising that immigrants from Austria, with such a considerable admixture
of German stock, show the same characteristics as the Germans themselves. Yet immigra-
tion from both Austria and Russia contains a large percentage of Jews who, as a stock,
have naturalized to a much smaller extent than immigrants of either Austrian or Russian
origin. The influence of this group would operate in the opposite direction, tending to
reduce the percentage naturalized of those coming direct from Austria and Russia, as
compared with the figure for the Slavs listed among the United States born immigrants
as of Austrian and Russian origin.' Just how far length of residence is a factor cannot be
determined, though probably it is important. The negative figure for the Poles may be
explained in part by the probability that those who come from the United States include
a larger percentage of the wandering type found in our cities and in certain of our mining
districts. A larger percentage of such men is probably found also in many of the other
groups of immigrants of United States birth, The difficulty of weighing the relative influence
of these factors must be obvious.
The immigrants from Finland, on the other hand, are almost entirely of Finnish stock,
and the Finns from the United States as from Europe are primarily an agricultural people.
That they show a larger percentage naturalized seems to substantiate the logical assumption
that the influence of a generation's residence in the United States normally is to make
the political assimilation of immigrants to Canada easier. The occupations of the Italians
are the same whetheT they come from the United States or from Italy. Italian immigrants
are also free from admixture of other stocks, and it is probable that there is no great
difference in the length of residence of United States and European born Italians in Canada.
There we have a case where most of the disturbing factors are inoperative, and it is found
that those born in the United States are naturalized to a considerably greater extent than
those who have come from overseas. Similar remarks apply to the Roumanians. The
comparison for the United States born French and the European born French immigrants,
RELATION OF URBAN RESIDENCE TO NATURALIZATION
145
though very favourable to the above thesis, is not valid because the former are mostly
the children of French Canadians who are merely returning to the country of their own
people.
In conclusion it may foe stated that where the European born have naturalized to a
greater extent than the United States born immigrants of the same stocks, various outside
factors have entered in which suggest that such cases are abnormal. On the other hand,
where outside influence is a minimum the percentages appear to be positive. It is probable,
therefore, other things being equal, that a generation's residence in the United States makes
political assimilation of foreign stocks in Canada somewhat easier. It must be1 kept in
mind, however, that the above generalization is tentative pending further investigation.
TABLE 82.-NATURALIZATION OF UNITED STATES BORN IMMIGRANTS, BY ORIGINS, AND OF OTHER
FOREIGN BORN BY CORRESPONDING COUNTRIES OF BIRTH, 1921.
(1)
(2)
Percentage of
immigrant
(3)
(4)
Percentage of
population
Percentage of
immigrant
U.S. born
naturalized,
Difference
population
Origin
by countries
Col.(l)-Col.
of various
population
of birth
(2).
origins
naturalized,
corresponding
Per cent
U.S. born
1921
to origins,
1921
631
77-3
56-7
55-2
59-4
22-1
- 2-7
206
130
45-2
42-1
55-7
56-3
31
0-8
— 0-6
3-63
11-81
19-51
55-7
Dutch
56-1
56-0
57-9
48-4
45-7
65-9
7-7
10-3
— 8-0
8-66
6-64
13-58
33-6
48-5
61-4
29-3
72-3
40
-10-9
213
3-84
4-36
73-4
39-4
45-1
690
86-4
30-2
71-7
-13-0
9-2
- 2-7
6-35
2-86
32-22
Polish
46-3
63-9
59-0
59-8
45-9
62-5
51-0
60-5
62-4
33-7
67-4
- 4-7
3-4
- 3-4
26-1
- 4-9
2-82
107
5-99
13-99
18-90
53-9
58-4
54-7
- 0-3
-14 1
4-2
1317
•3-05
0-28
44-3
58-9
'
TABLE 83.— DATA IN COLUMN 3, TABLE 82, ARRANGED BY LINGUISTIC GROUPS.
Scandinavian —
Danish
Icelandic. . .
Norwegian.
Swcdisn. . . .
Germanic —
Belgian
Dutch
German
- 0-6
-130
- 2-7
- 4-9
3-1
7-7
- 8-0
Latin and Greek —
French
Greek
Italian
Roumanian
Slavic —
Austrian
Czech
Polish
Russian
Serbo-Croatian.
Ukrainian
22-1
4-0
9-2
3-4
- 2-7
0-8
- 4-7
- 3-4-
26-1
4-2
THE EFFECT OF URBAN RESIDENCE ON NATURALIZATION
Somewhat more definite conclusions may be drawn as to the effect of urban as opposed
to ruraJ residence on the naturalization of any people. Table 84 (p. 147) shows the. percentages
of immigrants naturalized in cities 25,000 and over by countries of birth and the proportions
of all immigrants (that is, both rural and urban) from these countries who have become
Canadian citizens. Column- 3 gives the percentages by which the proportion naturalized of
the total foreign born (rural and urban) differs from the proportion naturalized among the
residents of large cities, for each country of birth.
74422—10
146 THE NATURALIZATION OF IMMIGRANT PEOPLES
For immigrants from all but five of ths specified countries, the percentage naturalized
in cities 25,000 and over is smaller than that naturalized in urban and rural communities
combined. The same holds true for the total foreign born. Were separate figures available
for the rural population, greater differences would be expected. Either living in large cities
is generally less favourable to naturalization or a radical change occurred between 1911
and 1921 in the nature of immigration from foreign countries in respect of rural and urban
distribution. For example, if immigration in the decade had been continuous on the same
scale and if during the last five years of the decade all the new arrivals had gone to the
large cities, such cities would show a larger percentage unnaturalized merely because they
had a disproportionate number of the newer immigrants. This, of course, did not happen.
There is no reason to believe that there was a radical change in the rural and urban
distribution of immigrants arriving between 1911 and 1914, and from that time to 1921
immigration greatly declined. The first alternative is obviously the principal explanation—
viz., that residence in large cities is less favourable to naturalization. Moreover, the fact
that the average of the negative deviations in Column 3 is only — 1-41 p.c. as against an
average of + 7.30 p.c. for the positive deviations is additional evidence that ordinarily that
section of an immigrant population which lives in large cities naturalizes less rapidly than
the section residing in rural districts and smaller communities.
The variation in the differences between Column 1 and Column 2 is worthy of passing
notice. A 22.06 p.c. larger proportion of all Galicians in Canada had naturalized than
of the Galicians living in the larger cities, as against a 2.96 p.c. smaller proportion for the
Jugo-Slavs. The question as to why this spread is so large is a subject for further
investigation.
With the exception of immigrants from France the foreign born who show large positive
deviations are essentially rural. Positive deviations greater than 9 p.c. occur in <Jhe following
cases, the Galicians, Norwegians, French, Hungarians, Austrians, Ukrainians, Belgians,
Swedish and Dutch. The figure for the Galicians is the highest and the countries are
arranged in descending order. It is recalled that the foreign born Galicians, with only
24.39 p.c. of their numbers in all urban communities, and the Norwegians, with 21.86 p.c.
urban, were mentioned as being the most rural immigrants in Canada. Further, in none
of the nine cases, except that of the French, did as high a proportion as 42 p.c. live in
urban centres, while the percentage urban for the total immigrant bom population in
Canada was 56.4 p.c. Even the percentage urban for those born in France (52.40 p.c.)
was 4 p.c. lower than the average for all immigrants. The position of the French immigrants
is 'peculiar because of the presence of so large a body of their own people among the basic
stocks of Canada. In the districts to which they go they are foreign in none but the legal
sense of the term. Their behaviour, therefore, is not important from the point of view of
assimilation nor is it any criterion for the others. They constitute no problem. The data
for the bona fide foreigners suggest that residence in large cities is relatively more unfavour-
able to naturalization in the case of those immigrants who show marked rural proclivities.
The five groups of foreign born showing negative deviations are the Jugo-Slavs, Italians,
Finns, Poles and Chinese. Two of these cases are not significant because of the smallness
of the numbers on which the percentages are based. In 1921 there were onlly 182 naturalized
Jugo-Slavs in cities 25,000 and over and some 400 Finns, representing only between
3 and 4 p.c. of all Finns in Canada. The other three classes of immigrants, namely, Italians,
Chinese and Poles, are among the most urban in Canada, with 75.8 p.c, 71-7 p.c. and 67-3
pc. respectively in incorporated cities, towns and villages. This suggests the correlative
hypothesis, that residence in urban communities is relatively less unfavourable (and in these
extreme cases actually favourable), to naturalization for those who naturally -congregate
there. Both these suggestions have been- confirmed by a more complete analysis of the
data, but the matter does not appear to be of sufficient consequence to occupy further space
in this report.
In conclusion, attention is recalled to the essential point of the discussion in this section.
Immigrants settling in large cities show a smaller percentage naturalized than immigrants
from the same cquntry who have settled in rural districts and in small urban centres. Urban
RELATION OF URBAN RESIDENCE TO NATURALIZATION
147
residence per se appears to be unfavourable to naturalization, if only because urban popu-
lations are generally more mobile than .rural populations.
Turning now to a comparison between immigrants from the different countries of origin,
it will be demonstrated that those nationalities which show a preference, for residence in cities
show smaller percentages naturalized than those among whom large proportions are rural.
TABLE 84— PERCENTAGE NATURALIZED OF ALL FOREIGN BORN, COMPARED WITH PERCENTAGE
NATURALIZED IN CITIES 25,000 AND OVER, 1921.
Birthplace
(1)
P.O.
naturalized
in cities
25,000 and
over
(2)
P.c. of total
foreign born
population
naturalized
(Urban and
Rural)
(3)
Excess-
Col. (2)'
over
Col. (1)
49-48
54-88
47-56
32-41
20-32
48-32
55-46
. 46-49
40-70
43-22
59-63
28-52
38-85
59-89
79-74
33 15
36-62
55-31
51-40
55-84
59-63
57-79
48-41
44-50
34-11
13-07
4-80
25-43
54-72
45-81
41-77
57-22
45-24
52-39
57-75
57-88
59-39
42-08
22-39
55-71
56-34
45-72
55-16
65-28
65-89
29-32
48-39
72-32
86-36
30-22
33-66
71-65
51-04
60-52
62-40
67-43
53-92
54-73
42-92
15-86
4-78
33-49
58-39
46-63
49-74
63-63
51-22
55 16
8-27
300
11-83
9-67
2-07
7-39
0-88
- 0-77
14-46
22-06
6-26
0-80
9-54
12-43
6-62
- 2-93
- 2-96
16-34
- 0-36
4-68
2-77
9-64
5-51
10-23
8-81
2-79
- 0-02
8-06
3-67
0-82
7-97
6-41
5-98
2-77
Holland
Poland
Turkey
Table 85 shows the percentage of foreign born naturalized for each country of birth and
the corresponding percentage dwelling in urban districts in Canada. The census definition
bf the term ' urban ' includes all incorporated cities, towns and villages. The percentages
naturalized are arranged in order of size, Iceland standing at the 'top with the highest, and
China at the bottom with the lowest.
While the coefficient of correlation between the two series was found to be only
r = — "386± ••16, 'the conclusion is not warranted that no relation exists. There are many
iforces at work other than urbanization, which affect different peoples in different ways and
iin different degrees, sometimes diminishing and sometimes increasing the influence of urban
environment on naturalization. For example, difference in length of residence, in sex dis-
tribution, and in occupation are most potent disturbing factors, as is the diversity of
cultures. Yet in spite of the interference of all those factors, the -fact that a coefficient of
correlation was obtained of even such moderate size suggests that there is an appreciable
inverse relationship between urban residence and the extent of naturalization, when com-
paring immigrants from one country with those from another.
A cruder method of determining whether any relationship exists is by comparing the
averages for the upper and lower halves of the table. The percentage naturalized for the
average of the upper 13 countries was found to be 65.0 p.c., while the percentage for the
74422— 101
148
THE NATURALIZATION OF IMMIGRANT PEOPLES
average country in the lower half of the table was only 39-4 p.c. When the proportions of
'40-5 p.c. urban for the average country in the upper section, and 55.9 p.c. urban for the
average country in the lower section, are compared with the averages for Column 1, a high
(percentage naturalized (65.0 p.c.) is associated with a comparatively small percentage urban
(40-5 p.c.) and a low percentage naturalized (39-4 p.c.) with a high percentage urban
(55-9 p.c). Of course, there are many exceptions where extraneous forces arrest or intensify
the operation of urban influences on naturalization. There seems to be little doubt, however,
Ithat, on the whole, the tendency has been for the countries whose immigrants have shown
a higher percentage living in urban districts in Canada, to have a smaller proportion
naturalized and vice versa. This conclusion seems to go hand in hand with the thesis
established in the earlier part of this section that urban life per se is comparatively unfavour-
able to naturalization.
TABLE 85 —PERCENTAGE OF FOREIGN BORN (1) NATURALIZED AND (2) URBAN, IN CANADA
COUNTRY OF BIRTH, 1921.
, BY
Country of Birth
(i)
P.O.
naturalized
(2)
P.c.
Urban
57-8
86-4
72-3
71-7
67-4
65-9
65-3
63-6
62-4
60-5
59-4
58-4
56-3
55-7
55-2
54-7
53-9
51-0
48-4
46-6
45-7
421
33-7
33-5
. 30-2
29-3
22-4
4-8
65-0
39-4
56-4
37-B
37-fl
21-9
24-«
37-2
24<4
42-fl
fifi-3
fill
35-3
85-0
31-5
41-4
52-4
41-9
44-6
67-3
40-9
84-5
33-3
40-6
49-7
38-2
75-8
89-3
52-8
71-7
40 -fl
fifl-9
PERCENTAGES NATURALIZED BY SEX
Table- 86 shows the percentage of males and females naturalized by countries of birth.
At first glance it may appear singular that in every country except Iceland and Syria a
larger proportion of the females than of the males have become Canadian citizens. Yet
that is only to be expected. The foreign born females in Canada over 15 years of age show a
(percentage married some 17 p.c. greater than do the males of the same age group, and it is
generally conceded that married immigrants with homes and families are much more
permanent settlers and should normally show a higher percentage naturalized. It is to be
remembered also that females are naturalized by the mere fact of marriage with a Canadian
■citizen.
A word in reference to the two exceptions mentioned above will not be out of place.
The case of the Syrians is unimportant, for their numbers are very small in Canada, but
the figure for the Icelanders, showing a smaller proportion of females naturalized than of
males, is remarkable. It is recalled, however, that Icelandic immigration is unique in other
respects and in particular as to the relative number of males and females in the population.
It is the one important country from which the numbers of females in Canada was greater
in 1921 than the number of males. That being the case, there is probably a small surplus
of unattached females which accounts for the lower percentage of that sex naturalized, just
THE RELATION OF SEX TO NATURALIZATION
14<?
>as in the case of the other nations the excess of males in the population may be considered
.as having a direct relation to the higher percentage of females who have become Canadian
citizens. ■
That there is a connection between the proportion of surplus males (or females) and the
percentages of each naturalized, may be seen by comparing the percentages given in this
table and Tables 87 and 88 with those in Table 35 in Chapter III. With only minor
(variations, which are more or less to be expected because of the differing characteristics of
the various stocks and the varying degrees to which disturbing factors enter in, the rank of
the countries, when arranged according to the percentage surplus of males, follows very
closely the order of arrangement of the percentages by which the proportions of females
naturalized exceeds the proportion of males.
To test this out superficially, the cases of Denmark and Sweden may be taken, being
the two countries in North Western Europe showing the highest surpluses of women
naturalized. The surplus of men among those immigrants amounts to 132 p.c. and 102 p.c.
respectively, the highest for North Western European countries. A like test applied to
South, Eastern and Central European groups would show similarly high percentages of
surplus males in the foreign born population where the proportions of females naturalized
exceeded that of the males by the largest percentage. And so with the linguistic groups,
with certain exceptions which are more or less easily explained.
To pursue this analysis further would be of interest, but the main object of this
section is to emphasize the importance of the difference between immigrant men and women
in respect to naturalization. Tables 87 and 88 have been inserted1 merely to show that the
degree to which females have surpassed males in respect to naturalization is not directly
related to geographical origin nor to linguistic characteristics. There is no uniformity
within the geographical or linguistic groups. Each origin is virtually a law unto itself.
TABLE I
-CITIZENSHIP OF FOREIGN BORN POPULATION IN CANADA, CLASSIFIED ACCORDING
TO BIRTHPLACE AND SEX, 1921.
Country of Birth
All Foreign Countries
Europe
Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Czechoslovakia
Denmark
Finland
France
Galicia
Germany
Greece
Holland
Hungary
Iceland
Italy
Jugo-Slavia
Norway
Poland
Roumania
Russia
Sweden
Switzerland
Ukraine
Other European Countries
Asia
China
Japan
Syria
Turkey
Other Asiatic Countries. . .
United States
West Indies
Others
P.c. of
foreign born
males
naturalized
52-4
54
55
41
17
53
52
41
54
62
64'
28'
47-
71-
87'
27-
29-.
69-
48-
56-
59-
64-i
51-
50-
P.c. of
foreign born
females
naturalized
65-3
62-8
65-1
43-2
Percentage
excess of
naturalized
females
over natural-
ized males
12-4
4-0
31-7
59-2
42-1
46-1
58'9
39-6
51-3
59-5
58-6
640
52-4
55-9
69-4
68-0
34-4
49-7
73-3
85-7
35-4
46-2
74-7
55-2
65-6
66-2
74 0
57-9
61-6
49-7
41-5
27-2
38-0
57-1
57-6
56-8
68-9
60-0
60-8
+12-9
+ 8-2
+ 9-6
+ 1-9
+41-9
+ 4-9
+11-2
+11-0
+ 1-4
+ 7-1
+ 3-8
+ 6-2
+ 2-2
+ 1-8
- 1-4
-t- 7-6
+16-9
+ 4-8
+ 7-2
+ 8-8
+ 6-7
+10-0
+ 63
+11-2
+10-2
+29-1
+23-2
+ 6-3
- 2-1
+15-5
+10-7
+10-0
+20-4
+ 9'5
150
THE NATURALIZATION OF IMMIGRANT PEOPLES
TART E 87 —PERCENTAGE BY WHICH THE PROPORTION OF FOREIGN BORN FEMALES NATURAL
IZED EXCEEDS I THE PROPORTION OF FOREIGN BORN MALES NATURALIZED IN CANADA, BY
GEOGRAPHICAL GROUPS OF COUNTRIES OF BIRTH, 1921.
Country of Birth
North Western Europe-
Belgium
Denmark
France
Germany
Holland
Iceland
Norway
Sweden
Switzerland
South, Eastern and Central Europe—
Austria
Bulgaria
Czechoslovakia
Finland
Galicia
Greece
Hungary
Italy
Jugo-Slavia
Poland
Roumania
Russia
Ukraine
Per cent
+ 1-9
4-11-2
+ 1-4
+ 3-8
+ 2-2
- 1-4
+ 4-8
+10-0
+ 6-3
+ 9-
+41-
+ 4-
+11-
+ 7-
+ 6^
+ 1'
+ 7-
+16'
+ 7'
+ 8>
+ 6'
+11'
TABLE 88 -PERCENTAGE BY WHICH THE PROPORTION OF FOREIGN BORN FEMALES 1 NATURAL-
IZED EXCEEDS 1 THE 1 PROPORTION OF FOREIGN BORN MALES NATURALIZED, IN CANADA,
BY LINGUISTIC GROUPS OF COUNTRIES OF BIRTH, 1921.
Country of Birth
Scandinavian —
Denmark
Iceland
Norway
Sweden
Germanic —
Belgium
Germany
Holland
Latin and Greek—
Greece
Italy
Roumania
Slavic —
Austria
Bulgaria
Czechoslovakia.
Galicia
Jugo-Slavia
Poland
Russia
Ukraine
Per cent
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
11-2
1-4
4-8
10-0
1-9
3-8
2-2
6-2
7-6
8-8
41-9
4-9
7-1
16-9
7-2
6-7
11-2
PERCENTAGES NATURALIZED BY PROVINCES
Table 89 shows the percentages of immigrants naturalized for Canada and for the
respective provinces in 1921, by country of birth. Attention is first directed- to the
percentages for the total foreign born. Considerable fluctuation is Shown as between the
various provinces. For Canada the proportion naturalized was 57-8 p.c. In Prince Edward
Island the proportion was 81-3 p.c, while in British Columbia only 40-5 p.c. of the foreign
born had been naturalized by 1-921. Thus, while Prince Edward Inland shows a 23-5 p.c.
(81-3 p.c— 57-8 p.c.) larger proportion of foreign born naturalized than the Dominion as a
whole, British Columbia shows a percentage naturalized some 17-3 .p.c. (57-8 p.c-^0-5 p.c.)
smaller than that for the Dominion. It is apparent that the extent to which naturalization
has proceeded in the various provinces fluctuates very violently, and it is extremely
significant, for example, that twice as large -a proportion of the foreign born are naturalized
in Prince Edward Island as in British Columbia, and over half again as large a proportion
in Saskatchewan as in Ontario.
NATURALIZED FOREIGN BORN IN VARIOUS PROVINCES
151
TABLE 89 —PERCENTAGE OF FOREIGN BORN NATURALIZED/FOR CANADA AND THE PROVINCES,
BY COUNTRY OF BIRTH, 1921.
Birthplace
Canada
Per cent
natural-
ized
Prince
Edward
Island
Per cent
natural-
ized
Nova
Scotia
Per cent
natural-
ized
New
Bruns-
wick
Per cent
natural-
ized
Quebec
Per cent
natural-
ized
Ontario
Per cent
natural-
ized
Mani-
toba
Per cent
natural-
ized
Saskat-
chewan
Per cent
natural-
ized
Alberta
Per cent
'natural-
ized
British
Colum-
bia
Per cent
natural-
ized
57-9
59-4
42-1
22-4
55-7
56-3
45-7
55-2
65-3
65-9
29-3
48-4
72-3
86-4
30-2
33-7
• 71-7
51-0
60-5
62-4
67-4
53-9
54-7
4-8
33-5
58-4
46-6
63-6
80-6
82-2
29-7
12-8
17-3
28-7
52 0
26-5
18-5
28-4
31-3
15-7
30-7
17-4
56-3
61-8
25-8
22-4
50-0
57-4
13-9
60
71-3
79-2
47-4
40-3
27-8
581
47-5
45-5
14-3
21-9
141
58-7
58-9
44-0
60-4
50-4
18-1
65-6
73-1
43-6
45-8
28-8
30-1
33-3
451
36-0
33-7
18-2
45-5
23-0
28-0
45-6
26-8
33-3
38-5
34-4
55-7
57-6
42-0
37-7
24-8
6-7
40-0
45-4
39-3
711
39-6
24-2
18-5
10-3
31-6
47-8
35-4
51-5
22-1
66-6
32-0
41-1
34-8
67-7
281
17-4
52-6
43-7
29-9
51-4
48-6
54-7
16-7
9-3
40-8
57-4
45-9
58-7
67-3
631
49-8
63-2
58-2
48-5
77-1
69-6
69-2
30-8
44-3
76-3
87-6
44-3
58-7
71-3
65-8
65-5
69-0
74-3
54-9
63-6
5-9
. 23-8
80-0
73-1
55-1
74-0
73-3
61-9
630
72-1
65-7
72-3
79-2
76-2
72-8
40-3
67-1
82-5
85-8
51-7
63-0
79-8
67-7
76-8
71 0
78-8
61-4
73-6
5-6
50-5
83-7
69 0
65-5
65-8
53-8
491
60-7
53-7
76-1
63-6
71-7
641
34-6
48-7
73-2
90-9
40-0
31-9
74-4
58-7
67-8
65-4
73-7
60-2
66-0
7-8
29-1
68-8
42-6
61-4
49-9
43-8
60-1
20-6
53-7
57-6
57-5
58-2
251
58-6
28-8
Holland
53-2
52-4
73-8
Italy
36-8
30-6
58-5
Poland
44-4
45-8
45-7
55-2
51-0
38-4
2-7
33-4
73-8
37-0
57-0
Total
57-8
81-3
55-5
67-2
54-5
46-3
64-1
70-9
61-9
40-5
Table 90 (p. 154) presents the differences between the provinces in a striking manner.
Where the proportion naturalized for the foreign born from a given country of birth is
greater than the figure for the Dominion, the difference is recorded with a positive sign.
Where the reverse holds true the difference is prefixed with the negative sign. When the immi-
grants in Prince Edward Island are distributed to their respective countries of birth their
numbers are not sufficiently great to be representative, so deviations in detail are given only
for provinces from Nova Scotia west.
The first feature to catch the eye in the table is Uhe preponderance of negative signs
in the case of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia, and
the frequency of positive signs in the case of each of the Prairie Provinces. What is
generally applicable to the various immigrant groups in each province holds true for the
total foreign born with one exception, viz., New Brunswick. While naturalization has not
advanced so far in New Brunswick as in Canada as a whole for the great majority of
immigrant peoples, it has proceeded to a very marked extent among the United States
immigrants, who are largely the returning sons and daughters of French Canadian emigrants.
Under the existing 'laws, naturalization is unusually rapid and easy for such immigrants, and
when it is recalled that 60 p.c. of the total foreign born immigrants in New Brunswick
are from the United States, it is easily understood how that province, while Showing lower
proportions naturalized for most of the immigrant stocks, shows on the total a higher
average than the Dominion. The influence of the rapid naturalization among so large a
body of United States born French immigrants outweighs the backwardness of the other
foreign people in assimilating politically. The case of New Brunswick is unique among the
provinces of Canada.
Reverting then to the main line of our analysis, in respect to naturalization British
Columbia lags farthest behind the average for Canada and Ontario comes next, while Prince
Edward Island, at the other extreme, is far ahead of the other provinces. Saskatchewan
stands second highest in the Dominion.
152 THE NATURALIZATION OF IMMIGRANT PEOPLES
It is of interest to relate the figures on naturalization for the provinces to the figures
showing the percentages of foreign born in the population of each provincial jurisdiction.
This is presented in Table 91, as is also the percentage in each province that the naturalized
foreign born citizens constitute of the total population. For the statesman and political
scientist this table is fraught with great significance. In the three Prairie Provinces, not
only is the naturalized percentage of foreign born about half again as large as in a province
like Ontario, but the proportion which the foreign born constitute of the total population
is from three to five times as great. The result is that the naturalized foreign born form
almost four times the percentage of the population in Manitoba that they do in Ontario,
and in Saskatchewan and Alberta over six times. These differences would be even more
marked were the naturalized foreign born expressed as percentages of the native and British
born for each province.
Further, were allowances made for the preponderance of adults among the foreign born,
using the data in Chapter III, it would be found that the percentages that the foreign born
votes constitute of the total vote would be considerably higher than the figures shown1 in
Column 3 of Table 91. Yet even taking that factor into consideration, in the East the
voting power of the foreign born is a very small fraction of the total vote. In the West,
on the other hand, it represents well over one-fifth of the total votes in one province and
very considerable proportions in the others.
Attention has already been called to the vital national significance of such a radical
■difference as exists between East and West in the " origin " structure of the population of
the provinces, and it was pointed out that while the proportion of non-British and non-French
stocks in Canada as a whole is as yet comparatively small, its distribution is such as to
make for a marked difference in the composition of the population in various provinces,
which cannot but reflect itself in differences of culture and of educational and political
outlook. Further, emphasis was laid on the fact that those differences are becoming more
•marked. Attention is now directed to the distribution of that proportion of the foreign
stocks born abroad. When certain sections of the Dominion have so marked a concentration •
of foreign-born citizens accustomed to different systems of government and finding it diffi-
cult to understand the genius of British political institutions, the situation is undoubtedly
one which demands attention not only in the present, but as to what lies ahead — the more
so as, with the United States enforcing a rigorous policy of exclusion, the pressure of immi-
gration during the coming years bids fair to be heavy. If the progressively uneven distri-
bution of incoming foreign people continues, and the uneven rate of naturalization also
persists, a problem of serious import will almost certainly emerge.
Passing now to a more detailed examination of Table 90, if we discard those figures
which represent less than 500 immigrants of a given nativity resident in a province as being
unimportant, in Nova Scotia there is only one case of an exceptionally large percentage
naturalized, viz., the United States born. They show a percentage naturalized above the
average for Canada. That is easily understood, however, for what has been said of the
United States born in New Brunswick applies also to Nova Scotia, though perhaps not to so
marked an extent. In New Brunswick also, the United States born constitute the only
significant exception to the general rule for the province. In Quebec there are two, the
Chinese and the United States born. In respect to the latter the same explanation applies
as in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. That the Chinese should show a slightly larger per-
centage naturalized in that province than the average for Canada may be due to longer
residence and a relatively high percentage of females. There are four significant exceptions
to the general rule for Ontario. First, a higher percentage naturalized for the Chinese is due.
in part at least, to length of residence (as in Quebec) and also to a relatively large propor-
tion 'of females. The percentage of females in the Chinese population in Ontario is second
only to that in British Columbia. The second case is the Swiss, among whom the percentage
of females in Ontario is higher than in any province west of Quebec; this alone would be
adequate to account for the slight positive deviation. ProbaMy length of residence is the
principal explanation of the Greeks showing a higher percentage naturalized in Ontario
EXTENT OF NATURALIZATION IN THE VARIOUS PROVINCES 153
ithan in Canada as a whole, though numerical strength may also be a factor. All the
influences mentioned above are operative in fixing the percentage for . the fourth case
above the average in the province of Ontario, that of the Germans.
In Manitoba, the Dutch, Norwegians and United States immigrants, contrary to the
general rule for the province, show lower percentages naturalized than for Canada as a
whole No explanation is offered in the case of the immigration from the Netherlands,
though the fact that the Dutch are much more urban in Manitoba than in Alberta and
Saskatchewan may have considerable influence. Probably a difference in occupation might
also help to explain the case, but occupational data by countries of birth are unfortunately
not available. The same remarks apply to the Norwegians. However, in comparison with such
•large negative deviations in the eastern provinces, the small negative deviation of minus
0-4 p.c. indicates a situation very much more favourable to naturalization in Manitoba, and
that is the significant thing. The Japanese in Manitoba are abnormally urban and have a
relatively small percentage of females as compared with other provinces. These two facts
seem adequate to explain the behaviour of these immigrants there, though of course other
factors may enter in.
In Saskatchewan only one group fails ito run true to type, namely, the Icelanders. For
them Saskatchewan appears to be slightly unfavourable to naturalization, but that .fact may
be explained on the basis of an unduly large surplus of males in that province. Of the three
important groups of immigrants for whom Alberta has a smaller percentage naturalized than
for Canada as a whole, the figures for the Danes and Germans seem explicable only on the
grounds of recent arrival, and the figure for the United States may be attributed to recent
arrival, coupled with a comparatively small percentage of females among the immigrants
to that province. The exceptions are more difficult to explain in British Columbia, and in
'the absence of occupational data a detailed analysis of the figures for that province is left
to those who are familiar with the conditions there and in particular with the vocations of
the various groups of immigrants.
If the percentage naturalized for • each group of foreign born be traced through the
iprovincial figures, it will be seen that on passing from east to west the percentages fluctuate
with remarkable uniformity of direction though not as to extent. As will be emphasized
below, the several immigrant groups show marked differences in the amount of fluctuation,
but the point of emphasis here is on the fact that in passing from one province to another,
the direction of fluctuation tends to be the same for virtually all groups of immigrants.
The exceptions are comparatively few, and in most cases a're traceable to very obvious causes.
If it be true, then, that for most groups of immigrants naturalization has proceeded
'further in the three Prairie Provinces and to an unduly small extent in British Columbia
and the older provinces of Ontario and Quebec, the question arises as to what underlying
forces are at work. The following suggestions are made: In the first place, the provinces
differ as to rural and urban distribution of the foreign born. The people in cities are more
mobile. A greater percentage might be described as a "floating population." In the rural
districts, on the other hand, and especially in the Prairie Provinces under the homesteading
system of acquiring land, permanency of residence is more marked, and a much more definite
interest is to be expected in the local and ultimately in the provincial and Dominion Gov-
vernments. Besides, the homestead laws have definitely stimulated naturalization. The
above factors are suggested as the main explanation of the general differences between
provinces, though length of residence, proportion of men and women, occupational differences
and many other factors are important in explaining the differing behaviour in respect to
■naturalization of the different sections of a given nativity group in the various parts of the
Dominion.
154
THE NATURALIZATION OF IMMIGRANT PEOPLES
TABLE 90.-PERCENTAGE BY WHICH THE PROPORTIONS OF FOREIGN BORN NATURALIZED IN
EACH PROVINCE DIFFERED FROM THE PROPORTION NATURALIZED FOR CANADA, BY
COUNTRY OF BIRTH, 1921.
Country of Birth
Prince
Edward
Island
Nova
Scotia
New
Bruns-
wick
Quebec
Ontario
Manitoba
Saskat-
chewan
Alberta
British
Columbia
p.o.
+22-7
+ 18-6
P.O.
- 28-2
- 46-6
- 24-8
- 27-0
-. 4-3
- 28-7
- 46-8
- 37-5
+ 2-0
- 32-7
- 41-6
- 12-8
+ 22-6
- 9-9
- 25-2
- 38-1
- 12-4
- 100
- 40-8
+ 1-2
+ 12-9
+ 15-6
p.o.
- 10-5
- 19-1
- 14-3
+ 1-8
- 7-7
- 20-4
- 15-0
- 26-5
- 16-1
- 13-0
+ 7-9
- 16-S
- 2-0
- 17-0
+ 13-3
+ 7-2
+ 9-5
p.o.
- 14-3
- 13-6
- 13-3
+ 7-8
- 22-4
- 11-1
- 9-6
- 21-5
- 47-1
- 20-4
- 6-3
- 20-4
- 26-7
- 3-4
- 0-4
- 33-2
- 16-6
- 4-8
- -4-8
- 25-4
- 16-2
- 29-9
+ 1-9
+ 6-5
- 13 0
- 7-3
+ 7-5
p.o.
- 18-3
- 35-2
- 23-6
- 121
- 24-1
- 8-5
- 10-3
- 3-7
- 43-2
+ 0-7
+ 2-7
- 7-3
- 37-5
- 18-7
- 2-1
- 16-3
- 19-1
- 7-3
- 30-6
- 11-0
- 18-8
+ 0-8
- 38-0
+ 4-5
+ 7-3
- 10
- 0-7
- 4-9
p.c.
+ 9-4
+ 3-7
+ 7-7
+ 7-5
+ 1-9
+ 2-8
+ 21-9
+ 4-3
+ 3-3
+ 1-5
- 4-1
+ 4-0
+ 1-2
+ 141
+ 25-0
- 0-4
+ 14-8
+ 5-0
+ 6-6
+ 6-9
+ 1-0
+ 8-9
+ 1-1
9-7
+ 21-6
+ 26-5
- 8-5
p.c.
+ 16-1
+ 13-9
+ 19-8
+ 40-6
+ 16-4
+ 9-4
+ 26-8
+ 24-0
+ 10-9
+ 6-9
+ 11-0
+ 18-7
+ 10-2
- 0-6
+ 21-5
+ 29-3
+ 8-1
+ 16-7
+ 16-3
+ 8-6
+ 11-4
+ 7-5
+ 18-9
+ 0-8
+ 17-0
+ 25-3
+ 5-4
p.o.
+ 7-6
+ 6-4
+ 11-7
+ 26-7
+ 5-0
- 2-6
+ 30-4
+ 8-4
+ 6-4
- 1-8
+ 5-3
+ 0-3
+ 0-9
+ 4-5
+ 9-8
- 1-8
+ 2-7
+ 7-7
+ 7-3
+ 3-0
+ 6-3
+ 6-3
+ 11-3
+ 3-0
4-4
+ 10-4
- 40
- 2-2
p.c.
- 8-0
- 15-6
+ 18-0
- 1-8
- 2-0
+ 1-3
+ 11-8
+ 3-0
- 40-2
- 7-3
- 0-5
Holland
+ 4-8
- 19-9
- 12-6
Italy
+ 6-6
- 31
- 13-2
- 6-6
- 14-7
- 16-7
- 12-2
- 2-9
- 16-3
- 2-1
- 0-1
+ 15-4
Turkey
- 9-6
- 6-6
Total
+ 23-5
- 2-3
+ 9-4
- 3-3
- 11-5
+ 6-3
+ 13-1
+ 4-1
- 17-3
TABLE 91— PERCENTAGE OF FOREIGN BORN NATURALIZED, BY PROVINCES, AND THE FOREIGN
BORN AND NATURALIZED FOREIGN BORN AS PERCENTAGES OF TOTAL POPULATION IN
EACH PROVINCE, 1921.
Province
Percentage of
Foreign born
naturalized
Foreign born
as percentage
of total
population
Naturalized
Foreign born
as percentage
of total
population
81-3
55-5
67-2
54-5
46-3
64-1
70-9
61-9
40-5
1-46
2-67
2-77
4-18
6-21
17-91
26-31
29-56
19-02
119
1-48
1-86
2-28
2-87
11-48
18-65
18-30
7-71
57-8
10 13
5-86
It is of interest in passing to compare the immigrants from the different countries as to
consistency of 'behaviour in respect to naturalization in the various parts of Canada. Table
92 shows the range of fluctuations by country of biTth. The range is admittedly a very
crude index of consistency or dispersion, and were the subject of sufficient importance from
the point of view of this study, -the average or standard deviations would1 have been- com-
puted. However, our purpose here is merely to show that marked differences do appear in
the consistency of behaviour of the various foreign born people in respect to naturalization
as between different sections of the country; or, to put it in another way, that the naturali-
zation of certain peoples is influenced to a great extent by differences in rural and urban
distribution, geographical and occupational environment, and distribution as to time of
arrival, etc., while in other cases the influence of these factors is comparatively small.
The range of 60-5 p.c. for the Austrians in Table 92 was computed by taking the
lowest percentage of that immigrant group naturalized for any province, from the highest.
In that case the lowest occurred in Nova Scotia, wthere only 12-8 p.c. were naturalized in
RELATION OF NATURALIZATION TO BIRTHPLACE OF IMMIGRANTS 155
1921 and the highest in Saskatchewan, where the figure was 73-3 p.c. The difference is 60-5
p.c. (73-3 p.c. minus 12-8 p.c), which figure indicated that the Austrians differ widely between
provinces as to percentage naturalized.
The ranges of 20-5 p.c. for the Danes and 23-2 p.c. for the Icelanders are at the other
extreme. The small magnitude of the range of fluctuations indicate marked consistency in
respect to naturalization in the case of each of these immigrant peoples. With them
naturalization has advanced not only to a marked extent but to a very uniform degree in
all provinces. In the case of the Greeks with a 25 p.c. range, consistency, but of a different
sort, is shown. The Greeks have been consistent throughout Canada in the small percentage
naturalized up to 1921. The same applies to an even more marked extent to the Chinese,
and so the tables may be examined. Tables 93 and 94 show the countries of birth of the
European born, grouped into geographical and linguistic classes.
TABLE 92 —RANGE OF FLUCTUATIONS OF PERCENTAGES OF FOREIGN BORN NATURALIZED, AS
BETWEEN PROVINCES, BY COUNTRIES OF BIRTH, 1921.
Country of Birth
Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Czechoslovakia. .
Denmark
Finland
France
Galicia
Germany
Greece
Holland
Hungary
Iceland
Italy...
Percentage
range of
fluctuation
Country of Birth
Jugo-Slavia. .
Norway
Poland
Roumania.. .
Russia
Sweden
Switzerland..
Ukraine
China
Japan
Syria
Turkey
U.S.A
Percentage
range of
fluctuation
TABLE 93 -RANGE OF FLUCTUATIONS OF PERCENTAGES OF FOREIGN BORN NATURALIZED AS
BETWEEN PROVINCES; BY GEOGRAPHICAL GROUPING OF COUNTRIES OF BIRTH, 1921.
Country of Birth
North Western Europe —
Belgium
Denmark
France
Germany
' Holland
Iceland
Norway
Sweden
Switzerland
Percentage
range of
fluctuation
44-6
20-5
52-7
44.4
51-2
23-2
41-3
36-8
23-7
Country of Birth
South, Eastern and Central Europe —
Austria
Bulgaria
Czechoslovakia
Finland
Galicia
Greece
Hungary
Italy.
Jugo-Slavia
Poland
Roumania
Russia
Ukraine
Percentage
range of
fluctuation
60-5
52-7
43-4
40-7
58-0
250
51-8
38-3
45-6
41-9
54-4
25-3
59-7
TABLE 94.-RANGE OF FLUCTUATIONS OF PERCENTAGES OF FOREIGN BORN NATURALIZED AS
BETWEEN PROVINCES, BY LINGUISTIC GROUPING OF COUNTRIES OF BIRTH, 1921.
Country of Birth
Scandinavian —
Denmark..
Iceland
Norway. . .
Sweden —
Germanic —
Belgium...
Germany..
Holland...
Percentage
range of
fluctuation
20-5
23-2
41-3
36-8
44-6
44.4
51-2
Country of Birth
Latin and Greek —
Greece
Italy
Roumania
Slavic —
Austria
Bulgaria
Czechoslovakia.
Galicia
Jugo-Slavia
Poland
Russia '.
Ukraine
Percentage
range of
fluctuation
25-0
38-3
54-4
60-5
52-7
43-4
58-0
45-6
41-9
25-3
59-7
156 • THE NATURALIZATION OF IMMIGRANT PEOPLES
SPEED OF NATURALIZATION
No adequate record is at present available of immigrants who have come to
Canada and, after remaining a time, have returned home or passed on to some other
country. So when it is stated that 59-4 p.c. of the Austrians in. Canada on June 1, 1921,
were naturalized citizens, reference is made only to those who were actually here at that
time and no direct account is taken of the thousands of immigrants from that country
who during the preceding years lhad come and gone. Certain individuals we know come
to 'Canada to stay; others come with the idea of remaining only a short time. It is
popularly assumed, for instance, that the Italians and Greeks are of the latter type. While
not a direct measure, the low percentage naturalized for such peoples indirectly reflects the
tendency of large numbers to leave the country after a few years, as well as being directly
related to the average time required for naturalization on the part of those who remain.
The reason for -that is explained below. The crude percentage naturalized is thus the result
of several factors. An attempt is made in this subsection to eliminate the time element and
to present a rough idea of what may be called, for want of a better term, the speed- of
naturalization.
When immigrants from a given country show relatively high proportions naturalized
for the specified dates of arrival, the inference is not only that they naturalized more
rapidly but, because of that fact, that larger proportions come to the country to stay. Unless
it happens that there has been a radical change in the type of immigration, from a country,
the one type coming to stay and the other to leave after a shout time, the validity of the
above inference seems beyond question. One knows of no such change taking place during
the latter part of the period under review. Of course, it is possible that, say, liarger
proportions of the Russians or Poles immigrating between 1880 and 1900 and perhaps during
the early years of the present century came merely to build railways and left in greater
numbers than the more recent immigrants from those countries. If such be the case, their
presence in Canada at that time is not reflected in the percentage naturalized among those
resident in Canada in 1921. Consequently in certain exceptional cases the percentages
naturalized for the earlier years may be somewhat unreliable in so far as they are expected
to reflect the presence of temporary immigration. By the same token they would measure
more accurately the speed of naturalization of those who remained.
Aside from such a possibility, it is a matter of common knowledge that some immi-
grants in most groups come to this country with the idea of leaving after having won the
smile of fortune. Many find that the winning takes 10, 20 or more years. They are not
permanent settlers. Canada is not their home and the presence of such a. group reduces the
percentage naturalized all along the line. Certain immigrant peoples, as has been said, have
larger proportions of this temporary type than have others, and when one speaks of speed
of naturalization, the influence of such classes must be kept in mind, as we'll as the rapidity
with which those who come to stay take out naturalization papers.
Another point should also be made clear in connection with the speed of naturalization.
Up to 1914 the law required a minimum of three years' residence in Canada prior to
naturalization. In that year the residence requirement was changed to five years, and after
the war a ten year clause was inserted to apply to all subjects of enemy States. Further,
naturalization was arrested during the war period for all enemy peoples. Thus the percent- ■
ages naturalized from 1914 on must be interpreted with great caution.
It may appear strange that in spite of the five year requirement Table 95 (p. 159) shows
that certain proportions arriving after 1919 were naturalized by 1921. The majority of such
cases are women and children who have joined their husbands and fathers who had previously
come to this country, and had by that time completed all necessary residence requirements.
There are also a certain number of repatriated Canadians in the group, but no new male
immigrants of foreign birth.
Passing now to the analysis and comparison of the speed of naturalization of the various
immigrant peoples, we have in Table 95 the percentage naturalized of foreign born in
THE RATE OF NATURALIZATION AMONG IMMIGRANT STOCKS 157
Canada in 1921 by date of arrival and country of birth. At the foot of the table will also
be found the 'percentages for specified groups of countries of birth. These have been
compiled from the census table showing the actual numbers for the separate nationalities.
The data are grouped into four periods of arrival. The figures for separate years were .
not available, so in the chart which presents the material in graphic form it was necessary
to choose some date within each period at which the percentage might most fittingly be
plotted. For the first two periods the middle point was chosen in all cases, that is, for the
periods 1919 to June, 1921, and 1915 to 1918 inclusive. The error in following that procedure
was considered unimportant, first, because the immigration laws make comparisons invalid
as between many of the groups of immigrants arriving during those years and secondly,
because those years are relatively unimportant from the standpoint, of actual numbers coming
to Canada. For the periods 1911 to 1914 and 1901 to 1910, the yearly immigration figures
svere examined for each country of birth and the date was found at which half of those
coming within each period had arrived. The percentages were plotted in each case at the
point so determined. Immigration figures for individual countries of birth were not avail-
able prior to 1897, so it was impossible to follow the same procedure for those classed as
arriving prior to 1901. The only alternative was to arbitrarily choose some date and apply
it to all. The date chosen was January 1, 1895. Of course, in many cases that may be
wide of bhe mark, but two or three years make little difference to naturalization after
settlers have been in the country more than two decades. Such an assumption, therefore,
is sufficiently accurate for the present purpose.
The data so charted appear on the semi^logarithmic- Chart 29. For those who are
familiar with interpreting graphs of this kind the following comments will be unnecessary.
The meaning and implication of the curves will be seen at a glance. However, the follow-
ing explanations may not be out of place. Chart 29 shows the percentage naturalized
of specified immigrants in Canada in 1921, by length of residence. ' The fact that
the curves ascend from left to right indicates that larger percentages are naturalized
of those who have been in the country for a greater length of time than obtain for the
recent arrivals.
Approximately the same proportion naturalized is shown for present residents who
arrived in Canada prior to 190il from North Western Europe as for those from South,
Eastern and Central Europe, but of the immigrants who have come between 1901 and 1919,
considerably larger proportions of the North Western Europeans have naturalized than of
immigrants from the South, Eastern and Central parts of the continent. Since 1919, the
record shows that large numbers of women and children have come from Slavic countries to
join their husbands and fathers. The same does not hold for the Germanic and Scandinavian
countries, so the percentage naturalized for the South, Eastern and Central European group
appears higher than: for the North Western European group in recent years. That fact,
however, is purely accidental. It may be said that, as a group, the South, Eastern and
Central Europeans have naturalized less readily than those from North Western Europe,
yet the unqualified statement is misleading.
Further light is thrown on the subject by an examination of the language classification.
Of the linguistic groups the Scandinavians have naturalized most rapidly, and it is very
significant that next to the Scandinavians, the Slavs show the greatest speed in becoming
Canadian citizens. They naturalize more rapidly than the Germanic immigrants, and did
Bo even before the war was in sight. Actually higher percentages of the Slavs who arrived
before 1911 and were still resident in Canada in. 1921, had been naturalized by that date
than occurred for the immigrants from the Germanic countries as a group. Of alll four
linguistic groups of Europe the immigrants from the Latin and Greek countries are the
slowest to naturalize, and a large proportion of them never naturalize at all. The latter
applies especially to the Italians and Greeks, who, as we have seen, are essentially urban
people. It is largely due to their inclusion that the South, Eastern and Central Europeans as
a group appeared averse to naturalization. The Roumanians are quite different; they are
158
THE NATURALIZATION OF IMMIGRANT PEOPLES
Chart XXIX
PERCENTAGE NATURALIZED, by LENGTH or RESIDENCE.for
IMMIGRANTS from SPECIFIED COUNTRIES or BIRTH
NUMBER OF YEARS IN CaNADA PRIOR TO 1921
(0
IS
20
'25
10
100
90
SO
70
60
10
20
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 II 12 O 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 2l 22 23 24 25
dumber of Years in Canada prior to 1921
THE RATE OF NATURALIZATION AMONG IMMIGRANT STOCKS
159
dominantly rural and' their behaviour in respect of naturalization is more similar to that
of the Slavic people than to that of the Italian and Greeks. They naturalize comparatively
rapidly.
Other things being equal, iimmigranits who settle in rural parts naturalize more rapidly
than those going to cities. That is only to be expected from the homestead laws and the
tendency for settlers on the land to be more permanent than those following most other
occupations.
The chart also presents the curve for the immigrants from the United States. The
United States imtmigrants naturalize as rapidly as the Scandinavians. Indeed, those coming
in recent years have naturalized more rapidly. That is due probably to the large percent-
age of British stock and repatriated French Canadians included in the United States immi-
gration, to which reference has been made in an earlier section. A detailed analysis of this
chart is left to 'the reader.
It is interesting to note, in conclusion, that the data presented in Table 95 substantiate
the thesis postulated earlier in this chapter, that immigrants who settle in rural parts
naturalize more rapidly than those who congregate in cities.
TABLE 95.— PERCENTAGE NATURALIZED OF FOREIGN BORN RESIDENTS IN CANADA IN 1921,
BY DATE OF ARRIVAL.
Birthplace
Total
naturalized
1919 to
June, 1921
1915
' to 1918
1911
to 1914
1901
to 1910
Before
1901
59-4
42-1
22-4
55-7
563
45-7
55-2
65-3
65-9
29-3
48-4
72-3
86-4
30-2
33-7
71-7
51-0
60-5
62-4
67-4
53-9
54-7
4-8
33-5
58-4
466
63-6
51-2
62-70
56-07
69-69
56-47
41-28
59-87
17-8
10-0
28-6
13-3
5-3
7-1
25-4
19-0
13-4
9-7
7-7
131
6-8
5-9
18-3
9-4
33-4
16-9
21-8
7-7
8-8
20-9
4-9
18-7
17-9
42-3
24-6
22-6
12-28
15-96
7-64
10-00
7-20
24-67
21-9
160
13-3
28-1
12-6
■ 11-9
27-9
35-0
16-8
11-9
16-5
28-6
27-8
13-4
17-4
25-0
18-4
19-8
19-5
21-4
17-9
28-6
3-4
18-0
23-4
23-5
33-6
50-0
21-05
17-76
21-61
16-32
14-01
20-60
27-8
35-8
12-3
31-4
53-2
37-5
43-7
311
33-7
24-1
41-6
35-0
59-4
22-6
19-9
70-8
33-7
31-9
431
61-6
44-1
24-3
3-7
30-3
45-7
29-7
62-4
67-7
50-79
33-48
64-00
35-92
25-98
35-17
70-8
63-1
49-5
68-7
79-8
58-6
62-5
77-3
77-8
40-2
70-6
83-9
86-9
43-8
47-6
84-8
65-9
74-9
78-1
79-0
71-6
69-1
4-7
38-1
65-7
64-1
80-9
50-0
76-26
70-95
81-98
72-47
57-66
74-00
90-3
79-2
86-4
81-4
79-6
73-7
74-2
93-2
78-5
60-5
Holland
75-9
89-6
93-9
Italy
63-2
75-5
82-5
Poland
80-9
89-6
77-0
85-3
79-6
911
7-6
69-3
76-6
Turkey
66-7
85-9
100-0
81-37
82-50
87-31
78-82
75-77
83-70
CHAPTER VIII
ORIGIN AND LANGUAGE— USE OF ENGLISH AND FRENCH BY
IMMIGRANT PEOPLES
Canada is the meeting place of many peoples. Within her boundaries many tongues are
spoken. The development and use of a common medium of communication has in the
past, as the sociologist avers, conditioned the emergence of human societies. Unless indi-
viduals -can make known to the other members of' the group their feelings and thoughts,
and unless they in turn are able to understand and appreciate the emotions and ideas of
their fellows, a group consciousness is impossible. The " animated moderation " which has
gradually been replacing the rule of force is based on discussion which, in turn, is conditioned
by the ability of converse. Common media of communication are as important in modern
democracies as with primitive peoples.
In Canada, there are two official languages, French and English. Before considering
the extent to which immigrants from other countries are learning one or both of these, it is
of interest to examine how far those of French origin have learned to speak English and
those of British origin to speak French. The following percentages have been computed
from the tables on language spoken by the population 10 years and over, resident in Canada,
June 1, 1921, (Census, Vol. 2, page 314) :i—
TABLE 96— PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION OF BRITISH ORIGIN REPORTED AS ABLE TO
SPEAK FRENCH. PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION OF FRENCH ORIGIN REPORTED AS
ABLE TO SPEAK ENGLISH, 1921.
Origin
Percentage
reported
as being able
to speak
English
Percentage
reported
as being able
to speak
French
57-7
45-0
50-8
Females
Total
Total 4-8
Two points are of interest in the above table. First, the striking difference between
the proportion of French who have learned English, and the proportion of those of English
speaking origins who have 'learned French. While approximately half of the French people
10 years of age and over reported themselves as able to speak English, less than one-twentieth
of the English of similar age claimed to be able to speak French at the time of the Census.
However, this comparison is somewhat misleading. The learning of a language other than
the mother tongue is largely a matter of social and especially of economic convenience, and
the proportions of the British and French stocks among whom it 13 a matter of convenience
to learn the other language are very different. While 23-0 p.c. of the French in Canada are
domiciled outside Quebec, i.e., in provinces where English is the dominant language of the
people, only 7.3 p.c. of the English speaking peoples are resident in the province of Quebec
where French is the native language of the vast majority of the population. When the
number of English who have acquired French is expressed as a proportion of the total of
English speaking origins in Canada, of whom perhaps only 10 to 15 p.c. ever come into
contact with French-speaking Canadians, the result is hardly comparable with that for the
French, with 25 to 30 p.c. living among English-speaking Canadians.
A much, fairer comparison is between the English-speaking stocks in the province of
Quebec, and the French in parts of Canada outside that province. Of the former, 30.7 p.c.
(10 years and over) were able to speak French at the date of the Census; of the latter,
160
PROPORTION UNABLE TO SPEAK ENGLISH OR FRENCH 161
83-3 p.c. (10 years and over) reported themselves as being able to speak English. These
percentages are much more representative, for they apply where conditions affecting the learn-
ing of the other language are more or less equal. '
The second point of note in Table 96 is that in each case the percentage of males able
to speak the language of the other was greater than the percentage of females reported a3
able to do so. The influence of business and economic forces in stimulating among the
males the learning of the language of the other dominant stock is undoubtedly of con-
siderable moment.
PROPORTION UNABLE TO SPEAK ENGLISH OR FRENCH
Turning now to the extent to which the immigrant peoples have related themselves to
the language spoken by those of French and British origins in Canada, Table 97 shows the
percentages, 10 years of age and over, unable to speak (1) English and (2) English or
French, for the principal non-British, non-French origins. The Indians, Japanese and
Chinese show the highest proportions. As in the case of assimilation by intermarriage
with the basic stock in the country, so in the matter of learning the languages of the
nation, these stocks are far behind the others. In respect of language, they are in a class
quite by themselves, within the neighbourhood- of 40 p.c. unable to speak French or English.
The Syrians have learned one of the languages to within a very small percentage of their
population 10 years and over in the country. Many of them have learned French. Of the
Jewish residents, 5-4 p.c. are still unable to speak either of the languages.
Over five times as large a proportion of the South, Eastern and Central Europeans
were unable to speak either English or French as of the North Western European group.
In the North Western group the proportion of the Belgians unable to speak English was
exceptionally high at 17-1 p.c. The great majority of these, however, spoke French as their
mother tongue. Thus, the percentage unable to speak either French or English is quite
small, being 4-1 p.c.
Of the stocks from South, Eastern and Central Europe, the Czechs and Greeks are
exceptional in having comparatively small numbers unable to speak one of the languages of
this country. The others in this group show considerably higher proportions unable to speak
French or English than any of the peoples from the North and West of Europe. Those of
Ukrainian origin seem to have made least progress in learning the Canadian languages; the
Austrians and Russians have made considerably more progress on the whole, though the
percentage unable to speak either is still very high. As far as inability to speak English is
concerned, the Italians stood second in the group, but quite large numbers of them speak
French, so when both languages are counted their position is much more favourable than
either the Austrians or Russians.
It is instructive to reclassify the origins according to linguistic groups. Such classi-
fication is shown in the lower part of Table 98. The Flemish were omitted from the
Germanic group because, while 60 p.c. of the Belgians by origin classification speak Flemish
as their native language, the major part of the balance speak French as the mother tongue.
Large numbers of these have not learned1 English, and their inclusion with the Germanic
group would be misleading when considering the question of language. It appears from the
table that those of Scandinavian origin on the whole speak either English or French in the
Jargest numbers. Indeed most of them speak English, and comparatively few speak French.
Of the Scandinavian stocks, the Icelandic shows the largest percentage unable to speak the
languages of the country. It is interesting to recall that they also showed the least tendency
to intermarry with the native British or French stock in Canada.
The Germans came next to the Danes and Norwegians, showing only a very slightly
larger percentage unable to speak English or French. In all three cases the proportions were
very small. The Dutch were on a par with the- Greeks in the Latin and Greek group, where
considerably larger percentages were unable to speak the dominant languages of Canada than
in the Germanic group. The Slavic group had the highest percentage of all. Of the Slavs,
the Czechs showed the lowest proportion unable to speak our languages, and in this respect
were ahead even of the Dutch and Greeks.
74422—11
162
THE LANGUAGE OF IMMIGRANT PEOPLES
TABLE 97.— PERCENTAGES, 10 YEARS OF AGE AND OVER, UNABLE TO SPEAK (l)ENGLISH,
(2) FRENCH OR ENGLISH, FOR THE PRINCIPAL NON-BRITISH, NON-FRENCH ORIGINS IN
CANADA, 1921.
Origin
Per cent
10 yrs.
and over
unable
to speak
English
Per cent
10 yrs. and
over unable
to speak
French or
English
18-3
171
180
38-2
6-4
14
7-7
14-8
1-9
7-6
10-5
5-9
45-6
190
411
5-7
1-4
13-8
13-7
17-0
8-9
2-3
2-5
9-2
26-2
18-2
180
32-1
6-2
Dutch
7'7
14 1
1-7
C-5
5-9
43-9
12-3
41-1
5-4
1-3
Polish
13-6
13-4
16-9
8-9
2-2
0-6
3-9
26-2
Chart XXX
PERCENTAGES or SPECIFIED GROUPSorORIGINS UNABLE to
SPEAK either ENGLISH or FRENCH.n CANADA, 1921
%0
10
20
7.
NsWestern Europe
S.,Eastern and Cent. Europe
Scandinavian
Germanic
Latin and Greek
Slavic
h
I
_____
The totals in Table 98 are presented graphically in Chart 30.
The differences between the other stocks in respect to the extent to which they were
unassimilated linguistically in 1921, is brought out in Table 98, which arranges the data by
original geographic habitat and broad language groups.
PROPORTION OF IMMIGRANT PEOPLES LEARNING ENGLISH
163
TABLE 98.-PERCENTAGES 10 YEARS OF AGE AND OVER UNABLE TO SPEAK (l)ENGLISH
(2) FRENCH OR ENGLISH, BY GEOGRAPHICAL AND LINGUISTIC GROUPS OF NON-BRITISH
AND NON-FRENCH ORIGINS, 1921.
Origin
Per cent
lOyrs.
and over
unable
to speak
English
Per cent
10 yrs. and
over unable
to speak
French or
English
North Western European — •
p.c.
17-1
1-4
7-7
1-9
5-9
1-4
2-3
2-5
p.c.
4-1
1-4
7-7
1-7
5-9
1-3
2-2 '
0-6
3-6
"3-0
South, Eastern and Central European —
18-3
6-4
14-8
7-6
10-5
190
13-8
13-7
170
26-2
18-2
6-2
141
6-5
104
14-0
13-6 ■
13-4
16-9
26-2
18-3
17-5
Scandinavian —
1-4
5-9
1-4
2-3
1-4
6-9
1-3
2-2
2-1
2-1
Germanic2 —
7-7
1-9.
7-7
1-7
3-6
3-4
Latin and Greek —
7-6
190
13-7
6-5
. 12-3
13-4
Total.
17-3
13-3
Slavic —
18-3
18-0
6-4
13-8
17-0
8-9
26-2
18-2
18-0
6-2
Polish
13-6
16-9
8-9
26-2
19-0
18-9
Notes: — 1 40 p.c. of the Belgians speak French as mother tongue; the figure 17*1 omitted from average.
> Flemish omitted as it is impossible to separate them from the total for Belgians.
PROPORTIONS OF NON^BRITISH AND NON-FRENCH ORIGINS ACQUIRING
ENGLISH
Larger percentages of the Dutch and Germans and Swiss and Danes, for instance, spoke
English or French as their mother tongue than of the Bulgarians and Finns and Hungarians
and Ukrainians. So, while the figures in Table 98 above constitute an index of the amount
of linguistic assimilation already having taken place, they indicate nothing definite as to
the progress made by those who did not speak English or French in the home. Table 99
gives the numbers and percentages of the principal European stocks, 10 years of age and
over, who did not speak English as the mother tongue yet had learned it by June 1, 1921,
the date of the census.
74422— U J
164
THE LANGUAGE OF IMMIGRANT PEOPLES
TABLE 99.-NUMBERS AND PERCENTAGES OF PRINCIPAL NON-BRITISH AND NON-FRENCH
ORIGINS, 10 YEARS AND OVER, IN CANADA. WHO HAD ACQUIRED ENGLISH BY 1921.
Origin
(1)
Total
10 years
and
over
(2)
Number
unable
to speak
English
(3)
Number
speaking
English
as mother
tongue
(4)
Number
who did
not speak
English
as mother
tongue
(5)
Number
who had
acquired
English
„ (6)
Per cent
of those
not knowing
English
as mother
tongue
who had
acquired it
69,653
15,416
6,351
15,798
88,381
15,795
221,280
4,201
8,742
12,308
45,386
93,412
50,379
35,412
8,715
67,131
47,041
9,935
5,573
67,654
12,726
2,637
408
221
6,823
2,339
4,220
• 317
916
727
8,599
5,277
685
4,878
1,190
11,406
1,061
245
515
17,753
2,398
3,852
659
4,917
63,782
470
101,437
358
280
748
2,518
3,264
8,579
1,928
245
2,798
8,189
6,008
432
395
iCol. 1-Col. 3)
67,215
11,563
5,692
10,881
24,599
15,325
199,843
3,843
8,462
11,560
42,868
90,148
41,800
33,484
8,470
64,333
38,853
-3,927
5,141
67,259
tCol. 4-Col. 2)
54,529
8,926
5,284
10,660
17,776
12,986
115,623
3,526
7,546
10, 833
34,269
84,871
41,115
28, 606
7,280
52,927
37,792
3,682
4,626
49,506
81-1
77-2
92-8
98-0
72-3
84-7
96-5
91-8
89-2
93-7
80-0
94-2
98-4
85-4
86-0
82-3
97-3
93-8
900
73-6
Dutch
Polish .
The significance of the above table becomes clearer when the percentages in Column 6
are arranged in descending order of magnitude.
TABLE 100.-PERCENTAGES OF PRINCIPAL ORIGINS, 10 YEARS OF AGE AND OVER, WHO DID
NOT KNOW ENGLISH AS THE MOTHER TONGUE BUT HAD LEARNED IT BY 1921.
Origin
Norwegian N
Danish !..".."!!!!!""!"!! n
Swedish !!.'!!".'!!.'.'!.'!!.'!!!!!!!!!!!! n
German *""!.*".'!].'!!.'!!"!".*.'.*.'.'.'.'!.' N
Jewish ' . \ ' " * ' ' "'"'..
Swiss..
Czechoslovak !.!.!.!!!"!!!!!!!! e
Icelandic !!"!!!"!!!"!! N
Greek. ~
Syrian !.!!!!!][!!!!!!...
Hungarian ; !..!""!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !e '
Roumanian ]...]."!.!!!!!" ]*!!"! E
Polish "I!"!.!!!!!""!!!"!"!!"!!!! e
Finnish !..!""!.."!!!"!
Russian !.!...!.!..!!!!!!!!!!!!""!!!!!!"!!!!" e
Austrian "!."!.."!!!""!! E
Italian ] \ \ '.'.'.'.'.WW '. '.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.".'.'' S
Ukrainian !..!!!!!!!!"!!!]!"]'". E
Dutch [ ].] ] Y.'. .'.'.['.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.' [ N
P.O.
98-4
98-0
97-3
96-5
94-2
93-8
92-8
93-7
91-8
90-0
89-2
86-0
85-4
84-7
82-3
81-1
80-0
73-6
72-3
N = North Western, S =Southern, E =Eastern European stocks.
The figure of 77-1 p.c. for the Belgians is omitted for the reason referred to in connec-
tion with the previous 'tables, viz., some 40 p.c. of those classed as of that origin speak
French as the mother tongue and many of them have not learned English because they
already knew one of the official languages of the country. To the extent that the Belgians
know French, they are linguistically assimilated in Canada though they may be ignorant of
English.
Table 98 indicates the actual extent to which assimilation in the 'matter of language had
taken place; Tables 99 and 100 show the extent to which those who did not speak English in
the home, had learned that language outside the home, — in school or in business. The
capital letters following the origin names indicate roughly the part of Europe from which
the several stocks have come. The predominance of "N's" in the top part of the table is
balanced by the predominance of "E's" in the lower part. Not only do marked differences
PROPORTIONS SPEAKING ENGLISH OR FRENCH AS MOTHER TONGUE 165
appear between the individual peoples in the matter of learning the languages of Canada,
but those from the North Western part of Europe, as a group, show proportions much
larger than do those of South, Eastern and Central European origins.
That the Dutch, a northern people, should be so exceptional as to appear at the bottom
of the list in Table 100, can only be explained by the practice among the Mennonites in
the West of reporting themselves as of Dutch origin. This was very common, especially in
the 1921 Census. The attitude of that people toward Canadian schools and other Canadian
institutions is well known.
How far these differences are clue to distinctively '' origin " causes and how far they are
due to length of residence in the country, etc., is discussed in detail later in this section.
English and French as Mother Tongue. — An additional aspect of the relation between
origin and language in Canada, is the extent to which the non-British and non-French
stocks speak English and French as the Mother Tongue, to which a passing reference has
already been made. One would expect the data on this point to show a somewhat marked
relation to the figures for intermarriage with (-he two Canadian basic stocks. Where English
or French is spoken in the home as the mother tongue, the inference is that intermarriage has
taken place and also that a larger percentage of the stock has lived for a considerable time
in Canada. While the relation between length of residence and amount of intermarriage
will not be examined at this point, the data in respect to the numbers of the non-British
and non-French origins who speak English or French as the mother tongue, are presented in
Tables 101, 102 and 103 below.,
Had the Japanese, Chinese and Indians been shown in the above table the percentages
for those origins would have appeared as very small. Only 3-0 p.c. of the Finns and 3-5 p.c.
of the Hebrew or Jewish origin spoke English or French as the mother tongue. The Syrians
showed a somewhat higher proportion, and it is noted that a number of them spoke French
as mother tongue, which is in accordance with the fact mentioned above, that quite a pro-
portion spoke French rather than English.
The difference between the peoples of North Western Europe and those of the South,
East and Centre, is more marked here than in any table presented heretofore. The Icelanders
are the outstanding exception in the North. Their proportion of 6-1 p.c. speaking English or
French as the mother tongue, is below that of either the Czechs (10-5 p.c.) or Greets
(8-8 p.c). With those exceptions, however, there is no overlapping of the groups. The
balance of the northern stocks showed proportions several times as great as the Icelandic,
and the percentages for the other South, Eastern and Central European peoples were all
below those of the Czechs and Greeks The percentages for the North Western Europeans
as a group were more than ten times greater than for the South, Eastern and Central
Europeans.
The Swiss, with a percentage of 60-5 speaking English as mother tongue (and of 61-8
speaking either English or French as mother tongue), came second only to the Dutch for
the whole group of immigrant stocks. It is significant in this connection that Table 73 in
Chapter VI places the Swiss women at the top of the list in respect to marrying outside
their " origin " group aaid the men of that origin just below the Danes who top the list for
the men.
Table 103 below, classifies the principal European stocks by linguistic groups. In this
table the Belgians are shown as Flemish and, as is to be expected, they reduce the average
for the Germanic group.
A marked disparity is indicated between those of Scandinavian and Germanic origin in
respect to speaking English or French as their mother tongue. The percentages for those
of Dutch and German origin are considerably higher than are those for the Scandinavians.
Yet the strange point is that, with .the exception of the Icelanders, the Scandinavian peoples
on the average show a percentage unable to speak either French or English, about as low as
the Germans and lower than the Dutch. (See Table 98.) The explanation is found in the
fact that somewhat larger proportions of the Norwegians, Swedes and Danes had learned
English outside the home, than was found in the case of the Germans, and far larger pro-
portions than in the case of the Dutch.
m
THE LANGUAGE OF IMMIGRANT PEOPLES
Both the Northern groups (the Germanic and Scandinavian) speak English or French as
the mother language to a far greater extent that do the Southern and Eastern groups. There
is not much difference between .the Latin and Greek and the Slavic peoples in this respect.
The Czechs are quite exceptional among the Slavs with a percentage of 10-5, which is also
higher than that for any dn the Latin and Greek group. The Ukrainians had the lowest pro-
portion of all European origins speaking one of the Canadian languages in the home, 0-6
p.c, and it is recalled that of those coming from Europe they showed the smallest percentage
marrying outside their own group. Further, when they did marry outside, they showed the
smallest percentage marrying into the British stocks.
TABLE 101— PERCENTAGES 10 YEARS AND OVER OF PRINCIPAL NON-FRENCH OR NON-
BRITISH ORIGINS SPEAKING (1) ENGLISH (2) ENGLISH OR FRENCH, AS MOTHER TONGUE, 1921.
Origin
Percentage
speaking
English
. as mother
tongue
Percentage
speaking
English or
French as
mother tongue
3-4
25-0
3-2
10-4
31-1
72-2
30
45-9
8-5
3-5
3-2
61
5-5
170
5-5
2-8
4-2
5-0
17-4
60-5
7-8
0-6
3-5
37-8
3-4
10-5
31-2
72-3
30
46-0
8-8
3-5
3-2
61
7-5
171
5-5
2-9
4-2
5-1
17-4
61-8
9-5
0-6
TABLE 102.-PERCENTAGES 10 YEARS AND OVER OF PRINCIPAL EUROPEAN ORIGINS SPEAKING
(1) ENGLISH AND (2) ENGLISH OR FRENCH AS MOTHER TONGUE, BY GEOGRAPHICAL GROUPS
1921.
Origin
Percentage
speaking
English
as mother
tongue
Percentage
speaking
English or
French as
mother tongue
North Western European —
Belgian
Danish
Dutch
German
Icelandic
Norwegian
Swedish
Swiss
Total
South, Eastern and Central European
Austrian
Bulgarian
Czechoslovak
Finnish
Greek
Hungarian
Italian '. —
Polish
Roumanian
Russian
Serbo-Croatian
Ukrainian
Total
25-0
31-1
72-2
45-9
6-1
17-0
17-4
37-8
31-2
72-3
46-0
61
17-1
17-4
61-8
42-9
43-4
3-4
3-5
3-2
3-4
10-4
10-5
30
30
8<5
8-8
3-2
3-2
5-5
7-5
5-5
5-5
2-8
2-9
4-2
4-2
50
51
0-6
0-6
3-7
4-0
LANGUAGE, INTERMARRIAGE AND LENGTH OF RESIDENCE
167
TABLE 103 —PERCENTAGE 10 YEARS OLD AND OVER OF PRINCIPAL EUROPEAN ORIGINS SPEAKING
(1) ENGLISH AND (2) ENGLISH OR FRENCH AS MOTHER TONGUE, BY LINGUISTIC GROUPS, 1921.
Origin
Percentage
speaking
English
as mother
tongue
Percentage
speaking
• English
or French
as mother
tongue
Scandinavian —
p.e.
311
6-1
17-0
17-4
p.c.
31-2
6-1
i? • ■ ■
17-1
17-4
17-9
17-9
Germanic-
25-0
72-2
45-9
37 '8
72-3
460
52-0
52-7
Latin and Greek-
8-5
5-5
2-8
8-8
7-5
2-9
5-4
6-9
Slavic—
3-4 ■
3-2
10-4
4-2
5-5
5-0
0-6
3-5
3-4
10-5
4-2
. 5-5
51
0-6
3-3
3-4
-
LANGUAGE, INTERMARRIAGE AND LENGTH OF RESIDENCE
Table 104 (p. 169) presents for specified non-British and non-Frenoh stocks (1) the .per-
centages 10 years of age and over unaMe to speak'either English or French, (2) the .percentage
speaking English or French ae mother tongue, (3) the percentages of those who did not know
English as mother tongue, but had learned to speak it by 19211, (4) the percentages i North
American born, (5) the percentage of males intermarried with British and French, (6) the
percentage of males intermarried with British stocks, (7) the percentages of Canadian born
in cities of 25,000 and over, and (8) the average number of years immigrants arriving since
1901 from the corresponding countries of birth had been in Canada in 1921.
Intermarriage and Mother Tongue. — That intermarriage and the proportions speaking
English and French as the mother tongue a>re very closely connected may be seen at a glance
on comparing Columns No. 2 and No. 5. With four exceptions, a high percentage speaking
the official languages of Canada in the home, is associated with a large amount of inter-
marriage and vice versa. The four cases where the relationship does not hold are the
Bulgarians, Greeks, Italians and Icelanders. In each of the first three origins there are very
large surpluses of males in the population, and for each of "these origins the men have inter-
married with the British and French several times as freely as the women. By using the
data for the males only, the amount of intermarriage for the group as a whole is thus
grossly overestimated, and were a table computed to measure the total amount of inter-
marriage for both sexes, the correlation would be quite as marked in the case of those stocks
as for any of the others. The Icelanders are harder to account for, and indeed the only
suggestion that one can put forward without further investigation, is that there is a marked
tendency to preserve the Icelandic language in the home when either their men or women
contract exogamous marriages.
The Learning of English. — Passing to Column 3, which shows the number in each origin
who had acquired English as a percentage of those who did not speak it as the mother
168 THE LANGUAGE OF IMMIGRANT PEOPLES
tongue, we have an index of the keenness of the respective foreign stocks in learning the
' English language. As an index it is crude, and the question arises as to what other factors
besides pure differences of " origin " are involved and how far they interfere with its use as
a measure of speed in acquiring the language. If we compare the percentages in Column
3 with the proportions of the respective stocks living in cities 25,000 and over by the
method of rank correlation, a coefficient of + '04 is found1, which indicates that whether a
people is predominantly rural or urban has little or no effect on the readiness with which
they learn English.
Some relationship appears, however, between the percentage of a stock North American
born (a crude index of length of residence among English speaking people) and the pro-
, portions of those speaking foreign languages who had learned English. The rank coeffi-
cient was found to be + -29.
More significant correlation would be expected were comparison made with the length
of time the foreign born sections of the different " origin " groups had been in Canada.
Unfortunately data as to length of residence of immigrants are not available by origins, but
in Chapter II a table was shown, giving the average number of years the immigrants who had
arrived from foreign countries since January 1, 1901, had been resident in Canada at the
date of the last census. Such a table, however, has its limitations. In the first place, it
could be prepared only for those nationalities whose geographical boundaries had not been
radically changed during the last two decades, and in the second place, as has already been
pointed out, origin and birthplace are in many cases by no means identical. However, keep-
ing in mind the necessity of caution in comparing such data, if the origins be ranked accord-
ing to the percentage of those of foreign mother tongue who had learned English outside
the home and the average for the upper and lower half of the table be compared with the
corresponding figures for length of residence of immigrants by country of birth, there appears
to be a year's difference between the upper and lower group. Further, the coefficient of
correlation by the method of rank differences was found to be + -37 and would probably be
somewhat higher were the data on immigration available by origins. The implication, is
that the length of time the new arrivals have been in Canada is a significant factor in deter-
mining the proportions who have learned to speak English.
The correlation, however, is only moderate, which implies that date of arrival, though
exerting an appreciable influence on the data in Column 3, is far from adequate to account
for the differences between the figures for the various origins. One is driven, therefore, to
the conclusion .that differences in origins are of major importance in the acquiring of English.
The several stocks show by no means the same keenness nor aptitude. Many examples of
such differences are revealed by a detailed comparison of Column 3 and Column 8. For
instance, it is obvious from the dati. that the Danes, Swiss and Greeks learn English com-
paratively rapidly, While the Austrians, Roumanians, Hungarians and Icelanders are .slow in
acquiring it..
The above conclusion, namely, that speed in acquiring English is largely a matter of
origin, is confirmed by the appearance of a marked relationship between the tendency to
intermarriage with the British stocks and the percentage learning English. Omitting the
figure for the Dutch, where the percentage learning to speak English is unduly reduced by
the Mennonites in the Prairie Provinces, and that for the Hebrews, where a very small
proportion intermarrying is coupled with a very large percentage learning English for
occupational reasons, — omitting these two exceptional cases — a coefficient of correlation by
the method of rank differences of + -77 is found to exist between the two series. Were the
figures on intermarriage in Column 6 representative of both sexes, the correlation would
probably be higher. It is evident, therefore, that those stocks which tend to intermarriage
with the British learn English most rapidly.
Turning now from the question of speed in acquiring English to the proportions of the
various peoples unable to speak either English or French at the date of the last census,
one finds, as in the former case, no correlation with the proportions in cities 25,000 and
over. That length of residence among English and French speaking people has a bearing
on the percentages of foreign stocks unable to speak either of these languages is shown by
RELATION OF LEARNING ENGLISH AND FRENCH TO INTERMARRIAGE 169
a co-efficient of correlation by rank differences of — -44 between the proportions unable to
speak either language and the percentages North American born, and one of — 58 with the
length of residence in Canada of the various groups of immigrants arriving from correspond-
ing countries of birth since the beginning of the century (Column 8).
Undoubtedly there are a number of forces exerting their influence on the .proportions
who have learned and are learning the French language. A minimum time requirement is
certainly necessary, and the proportions speaking our languages normally increase with the
years, but the time element is by no means adequate to account for the differences either
in the extent or speed of linguistic assimilation. The alternative seems to be that both the
extent to which the languages of Canada have been acquired and the speed in learning them
are largely matters of origin and possibly in some cases of cognate languages. What holds
true for intermarriage holds true for language and, as we shall see in the next chapter, obtains
for illiteracy and school attendance. In their reaction to assimilative forces, the various
stocks differ greatly.
TABLE 104— SUMMARY SHOWING THE RELATION BETWEEN THE LEARNING OF THE LANGUAGES
OF CANADA AND (1) INTERMARRIAGE WITH THE BASIC STOCKS OF CANADA, (2) URBAN
DOMICILE AND (3) LENGTH OF CANADIAN RESIDENCE, BY ORIGINS, 1921.
Origin
Per-
centage
10 years
of age
and over
unable to
speak
English
or French
Per-
centage
speaking
English
or French
as their
mother
tongue
Per-
centage of
those not
knowing
English as
mother
tongue
who nad
acquired „ it
Per-
centage
North
American
born
Per-
centage
of males
married
into
British
and French
stocks
Per-
centage
of males
married
into
English
stock
Percentage
of
population
in cities
25,000
and over
Average
number of
years
immi-
grants
arriving
since ISO 1
' from cor-
responding
countries
of birth
had been
in Canada
in 1921
18-2
4-1
18-0
321
6-2
1-4
7-7
141
1-7
6-5
5-4
10-4
5-9
43-9
12-3
41-2
1-3
13-6
13-4
169
8-9
2-2
0-6
26-2
3-5
37-8
3-4
10-5
31-2
72-3
30
46-0
8-8
3-5
3-2
61
7-5
17-1
5-5
2-9
4-2
5-1
17-4
61-8
0-6
81-1
77-2
92.8
98-0
72-3
84-7
96-5
91-8
94-6
89-2
93-7
80-0
98-4
85-4
86-0
82-3
. 97-3
93-8
73-6
53-42
3704
15-68
7-58
55-81
61-69
91-43
43-60
85-32
32-77
44-17
54-37
61-41
99-76
45-89
27-41
91-76
66-45
' .54-60
45-82
55-80
42-32
54-23
75-03
54-43
1-55
27-90
27-94
4-08
11-66
38-05
46-23
4-89
18-92
31-22
1-67
2-21
14-29
8-03
14-43
113
4-73
24-14
4-50
4-47
5-36
8-93
23-69
44-74
0-78
1-34
9-48
23-52
3-38
9-62
34-38
43-46
4-06
16-83
27-50
1-46
1-94
13-17
4-42
11-10
0-96
3-85
22-63
3-60
3-40
4-40
8-93
23-43
36-85
0-67
13-24
17-29
44-87
10-80
17-82
11-84
5-96
9-39
64-20
84-08
10-93
16-06
9-53
47-92
29-52
35-97
6-55
28-10
26-15
13-14
23-63
10-11
17-69
8-38
11-9
8-5
9-6
8-9
9-7
9-5
10-9
12-3
9-5
Dutch
14-8
9-5
9-3
Polish
11-6
120
Serbo-Croatian
9-3
CHAPTER IX
ILLITERACY AND SCHOOL ATTENDANCE AS AFFECTED BY
THE ORIGINS OF THE POPULATION
A comprehensive monograph by Mr. M. C. MacLean,. M.A., Chief of the Education
Statistics Branch of the Dominion Bureau of Statistics, has been issued by the Bureau,
dealing with the many-sided problem of illiteracy and school attendance in Canada.
Certain conclusions reached are vitally related to a general survey of the Canadian popula-
tion from the point of view of birthplace and origin, and this ehaipter does little more than
recapitulate such parts of that report as are considered pertinent to the main thesis of the
present monograph. Certain rearrangements of tables have been made, also minor changes
in the -method of analysis and .presentation, for the purpose of preserving unity t in the
present report. Virtually all the material incorporated in this chapter, however, may be
obtained in greater detail in the report on illiteracy.
ILLITERACY AMONG THE FOREIGN BORN OF NON-BRITISH AND
NON-FRENCH ORIGINS ' r;
Table 105 shows the percentage illiterate of the immigrants of non-British and non-
French stock in Canada as at the date of the census, 1921. The percentages are arranged
in order of magnitude and the rank of each origin is indicated. That there is considerable
variation between the immigrants of different origins in respect of illiteracy, is obvious at
a glance. The foreign born Ukrainians, showing nearly 40 p.c. (10 years of age and over)
illiterate, stand at the top of 'the table, while the Norwegians, with only 1-40 p.c. illiterate,
are at the bottom. That such great variation as is indicated by the spread of approxi-
mately 38 p.c. should exist in the proportions unable to read or write in any language cannot
but be a matter of grave concern for those who are interested in the development of an
enlightened Canadian people.
The bearing of these figures on immigration is obvious. Of the ten most illiterate
peoples coming to Canada, nine are from South, Eastern and Central Europe, and the tenth,
namely, the Chinese, from the Orient. On the other hand, among the ten least illiterate
of the foreign stocks coming to Canada are included all the Scandinavian and Germanic
peoples.
TABLE 105.
-PERCENTAGES ILLITERATE AMONG THE FOREIGN-BORN OF THE PRINCIPAL NON-
BRITISH AND NON-FRENCH ORIGINS IN CANADA, 1921.
Rank
Origin
Percentage
illiterate of
10 years of
age and over
39-46
35-08
31-15
27-03
Polish
24-46
23-92
23-74
23-68
23-56
10
22-72
22-22
12 .
20-40
15-73
14
13-95
12-59
11-94
17
11-59
18
9-83
19
6-59
20
4-90
21
3-16
22
2-67
23
1-74
1-68
25
1-52
26
1-40
170
ILLITERATE IMMIGRANTS OTHER THAN BRITISH AND FRENCH 171
Table 106 distributes the Europeans according to geographical and linguistic groups and
presents these differences even more clearly. The percentage illiterate for the most illiterate
stock from North Western Europe is approximately half the size of the percentage for the
least illiterate from South, Eastern and Central Europe. The percentage for the North
Western European group is 2-66 p.c, while that for the South, Eastern and Central group
is 22-31 p.c. Such a marked difference is obviously not a matter of chance.
That illiteracy ;s to a considerable extent a matter of stocks or origins, is further
established when an examination is made of the percentages for the linguistic groups. The
percentage illiterate for the Scandinavian group is the lowest and, with the exception of the
Swiss and the Dutch, the proportion unable to read and write for each of the Scandinavian
peoples is lower than that for any other European stock. As a group the Latins and Greeks
are much more illiterate than either the Scandinavian or Germanic peoples. The percentage
for 'the Greeks, the lowest in that group, is approximately twice, and the percentages for
the Italians and 'Roumanians about four times greater than that for the Belgians, the
highest among the Northern Europeans. While there is considerable overlapping of
percentages between those of Latin and Greek and Slavic origin, the percentage illiterate
for the Slavs as a group is even higher than that for the Latin and Greek group. The
figure for the Slavs is increased by the extremely large percentage illiterate among the
Austrians and Ukrainians, who form a very large proportion of the Slavic immigrants to
Canada. The percentage for the Czechs is about as low as that for. the Greeks, While the
proportions illiterate among the other Slavic peoples approximate the percentages illiterate
for the other two Latin and Greek peoples, namely, the Italians and Roumanians. The
data in Table 105 are presented graphically in Chart 31.
TABLE 106 —PERCENTAGES ILLITERATE AMONG THE FOREIGN BORN OF THE PRINCIPAL
NON-BRITISH AND NON-FRENCH ORIGINS IN CANADA, BY GEOGRAPHICAL AND LINGUISTIC
GROUPS, 1931.
Origin
Percentage
illiterate
10 years
of age
and over
Origin
Percentage
illiterate
10 years
of ago
and over
North Western Europe—
6-59
1-74
4-90
1-68
316
1-40
1-52
2-67
Scandinavian —
1-74
3-16
1-40
2-67
Total
1-81
Germanic —
659
2-66
4-90
1-68
35-08
23-56
11-94
12-59
11-59
15-73
23-68
22-72
24-46
27-03
23-92
39-46
3 03
Latin and Greek —
11-59
South, Eastern and Central Europe—
23-68
27-03
19-45
Slavic —
w ■
35 08
23-56
11-94
22-72
24-46
23-92
39-46
22-31
24-45
172 RELATION OF ILLITERACY AND SCHOOL ATTENDANCE TO ORIGIN
Chart XXXI
PERCENTAGES ILLITERATE amono the FOREIGN -BORN, 10 YRS.
andOVER,of the PRINCIPAL NON- BRITISH and NON- FRENCH
ORIGINS in CANADA, 1921.
%0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50%
I 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Ukrainian
Austrian
Chinese
Roumania
Polish
Russian
Lithuanian
Italian
Bulgarian
Serbo-Croatian
Syrian
Japanese
Hungarian
Finnish
Czecho- Slovak
Greek
Hebrew
Belgian .
German
Icelandic
Sweoish
Danish
Dutch
RELATION OF ILLITERACY 'TO ORIGIN
173
RELATION OF ILLITERACY TO ORIGIN AND OTHER FACTORS
That illiteracy is largely a matter of origin has been established in a second way in
the report referred to above. It was found that immigrants of different origins tended to
■ show relatively the same proportions illiterate whether they were of foreign or British birth.
Further, it was found that similar differences persist as between the various age groups of
the respective foreign 'stocks. The reader is referred to page 67 of " Illiteracy and School
Attendance in Canada" for a detailed discussion of these correlations.
A third method of showing that illiteracy is largely a matter of origin is discussed on
page 114 of the same report. A study was made of 49 selected census districts in the
Prairie Provinces, and a very marked' relationship was found between the percentage of the
8 most illiterate peoples and the total illiteracy in the population of the various districts.
The correlation between the percentage of those stocks and the amount of illiteracy in the. 49
districts was found to be + -98. "It might be. said that illiteracy and the presence of those,
stocks was practically an identity. It is not necessary to resort to elaborate statistical'
analysis to show that this is true. Definite statistics for those stocks have been given in the
census of 1921, the relevant portion of which may be summarized for the 49 divisions in
question as follows " : —
TABLE 107A.-NON-LITERATE STOCKS IN 49 CENSUS DIVISIONS OF THE PRAIRIE
PROVINCES.
Items
Non-literate
stocks
All
classes
All classes
except non-
literate
stocks
Population 10 years and over
253,386
67.127
26-5
1,431,974
76,359
5-3
1,178,588
9,232
Number illiterate
" The non4iterate stocks enumerated above represented only 8 different origins. If several
( other origins designated ' various ' and including certain Asiatics,' etc., had been included
among the non-literate group it would seem .that the illiteracy of the rest of the population
was- negligible.''
As a result of the above analysis the following conclusions were reached in connection
with the relationship of origin and illiteracy. "The element of origin wpuld seem to be
the largest factor in illiteracy in Canada. The percentage of illiterates among the people
of Canada 'is raised from one per cent to five per cent by stocks other than British. Some
deductions have to be made on the score of favourable distribution (urban, etc.) but the
'origin' element in illiteracy remains paramount."
Illiteracy as affected by Birthplace.— -The following summary statement is presented as
representing the findings of the same report on the relationship of birthplace and illiteracy:
"The element of nativity, although somewhat involved with that of origin, has an
independent bearing upon illiteracy. The foreign born of the same origin at the 'same age
and in the same locality are considerably more illiterate (with certain exceptions) than the
native born, while persons 'born in other parts of the Empire are less illiterate than the
native born. Further, the nativity of the parents has an independent bearing upon illiteracy,
the least illiterate being persons with one parent Canadian, the other British. The effects
of nativity are particularly noticeable in the case of females."
Illiteracy and Rural and Urban Distribution.— -In this connection the following quotation
is taken from the report: "The element of rural and urban residence is found on close
analysis to be much less important than appears from the crude figures. The differentiation
between the percentage of illiterates among the rural and urban populations is partly due
to favourable nativity distribution in urban centres, especially of foreign born females;
partly to favourable 'origin' distribution, and somewhat, but very little, to sex distribution'.
Age distribution is slightly in favour of rural centres, but this is perhaps more than counter-
balanced by the fact that increase in the proportion of children of school age to the rest of
174 RELATION OF ILLITERACY AND SCHOOL ATTENDANCE TO ORIGIN
the population operates against completeness of school attendance. The balance of the
difference is genuinely caused by the superior educational advantages of urban residence.
Rural conditions generally applied would raise the illiteracy of Canada no more than 1 per
cent,"
Sex and Illiteracy.— It was found that females were less illiterate than males,_ because
(1) they were younger; (2) they tended to live in urban communities rather than in rural;
and (3) because they tended to come from literate rather than illiterate countries. The
difference between the sexes in respect to illiteracy is thus not a sex differentiation, but is
due to " the nature of the distribution of the sexes in respect to age, nativity, origin and
rural and urban residence."
Illiteracy and Inability to Speak English and French.-TMe 107B shows the percentage
10 years of age and over illiterate for immigrants of specified foreign origins m Canada, and
the corresponding percentages unable to speak English or French. The correlation between
two series may be measured mathematically by the use of the Pearsonian coefficient of
correlation, which in the above case was found to be + -65; ± -116. That so large a positive
coefficient was obtained ds more or less conclusive evidence that there is a very definite
relationship between illiteracy and inability to speak either of the native tongues of Canada.
The following further conclusion in respect to the relationship between illiteracy and the
learning of English or French ds arrived at: "It would also seem that the persistence of
'origin' characteristics of illiteracy is greater than that of inability to team English or French."
For the grounds on which this assertion is based, the reader is. referred to Chapter 8 in the
original report.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
ORIGINS IN CANADA IN 1921.
Percentage
unable to
Percentage
speak French
Origin
illiterate,
or English
10 years of
10 years
age and over
of age
and over
,
1-40
1-41
115
8-70
1-52
1-68
Dutch
1-74
1-84
Danish •
2-67
2-68
Swedish
316
10-09
Icelandic
4-90
402
German
6-59
4-94
Belgian '
9-83
7-24
Hebrew
11-59
7-05
Greek •
11-94
800
Czech
12-59
17-31
Finnish
13-95
-
Various
15-73
13-76
20-40
42-50
22-22
5-32
Syrian • ' ' " '
22-72
10-27
Serbo-Croatian
23-56
18 08
Bulgarian
23-68
17-19
Italian
23-74
9-61
Lithuanian
23-92
18-47
Russian
24-46
17-26
Polish
27-03
14-55
Roumanian
3115
32-60
Chinese '
35-08
22-68
Austrian
39-46
32-98
Ukrainian
School Attendance and Illiteracy. -It was found that "under present conditions in
Canada there is a decided connection between the illiteracy of a community and the
school attendance of children, 7 to 14 years of age." It was also established that there
was a "less and somewhat uncertain relationship between school attendance and physical
environment which caused school attendance to be necessarily poorer in rural than in
RELATION OF SCHOOL ATTENDANCE TO ILLITERACY 175
adjoining urban areas." It was made very clear, however, that the determining factor in respect
to school attendance was illiteracy, and in communities where the amount oj illiteracy was
marked, there was also a tendency either " to jail to provide school accommodation for
the children or to/ jail to send them to schools where accommodation had been provided."
The Pearsonian coefficient of correlation between percentages illiterate and percentages not
at school by census divisions was found to be + -92 in essentially rural districts and + -75 in
urban areas. That such large coefficients are rather unusual in measuring correlation,
between social phenomena gives added significance to the relationships which they measure.
" Illiteracy and other mental, social or ' origin ' factors, kept more children out of school
in 1921 than climate, thin and new settlements, etc., combined."
An illiterate community thus shotvs a marked tendency to remain illiterate, and that fact
is exceedingly important in. the light of the previous conclusions of the study which identified
illiteracy with the presence of certain non-Canadian elements among the population in the
various parts of Canada.
. CHAPTER X
THE RELATION OF ORIGINS AND NATIVITY TO CRIME
NATIVITY AND CONVICTIONS FOR INDICTABLE OFFENCES
Indictable offences include serious breaches of the law. During the past few years
convictions in Canada for such offences have fluctuated between 15,000 and 19,000 per
annum. Of those, not more than 1,000 each year have resulted in penitentiary sentences,
the number in Canadian penitentiaries at any given time being between 2J200 and 2,700. In
addition to indictable offences there are misdemeanours of juveniles with which the juvenile
courts deal and for which reformatory sentences are frequently given. The total convic-
tions of juveniles off both major and minor charges number between 8,000 and 9,000 yearly
and the population of reformatories is usually about 2,500. The great majority of illegal
acts, however, are committed by adults and are of a minor nature, coming in the "non-
indictable" class. They are dealt with by police magistrates and justices of the peace,
and the number of summary convictions handed down each year ranges between 130,000
and 150,000, which is many times in excess of the number of other classes of convictions.
A study of the different nativity and ' origin ' groups from the point of view of respect
for law is, of necessity, confined to the section of the papulation convicted of indictable
offences, and to the inmates of reformatories and penitentiaries. Data as to birthplace
and origin are not available for the large group of adults summarily convicted in police
courts nor for juvenile delinquents who escape a reformatory sentence. The birthplace of
those convicted of indictable offences, however, is recorded, and a complete analysis of
census data dealing with the reformatory and penitentiary population has been made. Such
data include only the more serious offenders both among juveniles and adults, but though
such offenders are much fewer than adults convicted of minor infringements of the law,
they constitute a much more satisfactory basis for the study of criminal tendencies as
exhibited by the various sections of a population.
Reference has' already been made to the importance of age and sex distribution as
factors in explaining differences in social behaviour. Such factors are especially important
in comparisons between groups of a population in respect of criminality. As will be shown
in the analysis of penitentiary population, crime is much more frequent among males than
females, and occurs most frequently among young men. Consequently, when a section of
the population is characterized by an abnormally large proportion of males below the age
of thirty, a higher crime rate is to be expected. The significance of this fact in connection
with immigration has been suggested in a previous chapter. Other things being equal, the
normal expectation is for a larger proportion of criminals among immigrants, and especially
among recent immigrants, because a migrating population ordinarily includes a dispropor-
tionately large number oj males in the prime oj life. Immigration, thus, may tend to
raise the crime rate in a country, merely because of age and sex distribution favourable
to crime.
In this connection, attention is again called to the fact that, other things being equal,
the most desirable immigration is that in which the sexes are most nearly equal and among
which the largest proportion takes up permanent residence in this country; the least desirable
being that which is characterized by a large floating surplus of young unattached men
who spend a few years here and then return to their native' land or go to some other par;
of the world. Table 35, Chapter III, shows the countries which have sent to Canada the
largest proportions of males, and in the discussion on the extent and speed of naturalization
certain inferences were made as to the differing proportions of immigrants from specified
countries who contemplate permanent residence in Canada. Attention is again directed
176
NATIVITY AND CONVICTIONS FOB INDICTABLE OFFENCES
177
to those chapters, for they are intimately related to the analysis which is to follow. For
example, if it is shown that apart from peculiarities of sex and age distribution, imlmigrants
of some nationalities have excessively high crime rates, the importance of such a finding
is greatly increased if at the same time such immigrants are predominantly males, with an
age distribution kept unduly favourable to crime by the constant withdrawal of the older
men from the country and the continuous influx of younger men from the homeland.
While it is important to know in which sections of the population crime is most common,
the crude crime rates have been frequently taken as an index of differences in criminality
due to original nature and early environment, and have been used to support the thesis
that certain nationalities and stocks are more predisposed to disobey the law than are
others. If no account is taken of age and sex differences, such comparisons may be extremely
unfair and misleading. It is our immediate intention to examine the data on indictable
offences and determine how far considerations of age and sex account for the higher rate
obtaining among the foreign-born, and how far it may fairly be attributed to birthplace,
origin and other factors.
Table 108 shows the numbers, 16 years of age and over, convicted of indictable offences
in Canada by sex and specified age groups. The figures are for the year 1924, being a
sufficient length of time after the war to reflect normal conditions. The numbers are
expressed as rates per 100,000 of the population of Canada in the corresponding age and
sex groups in the year, of the Census, 1921. The rates are thus in all cases a little larger
than they should be, for between 1921 and 1924 the number in each of the age groups
had slightly increased through immigration and natural growth. However, the error is very
slight, and as the purpose of the table is to call attention to the influence of age and sex
on crime, it is the relative rather than the absolute magnitude of the • rates which is of
importance, and the error involved in assuming that the age and sex distribution was the
same in 1924 as in 1921 is negligible.
The table emphasizes two facts; first, that convictions for indictable offences among
men are many times more frequent than among women; and second, that in both sexes they
are most common under 40 years of age. These facts are of common knowledge, but the
magnitude of the differences is sometimes not appreciated.
TABLE 108.-
-AGE AND SEX AS FACTORS IN CONVICTIONS FOR INDICTABLE OFFENCES
IN CANADA.
Age
Sex
Number of
convictions
in 1024
Population
of Canada
1021
Convictions
per 100,000
population
16-20
/ M
If
/ M
lF„
f M
\F
/ M
\F
2,831
272
6,557
1,054
2,167
368
2,857
132
393,406
390,945
1,311,783
1,224,667
1,207,411
1,055,408
21-39
70
501
86
180
35
Total convictions: Male 14,'432
Female 1,826
The number of convictions in 1921, classified by broad nativity groups, are given in
Table 109, together with the rates per 100,000 population of each group. If the rate for the
Canadian born be taken as 100 and those for the " Other British " and Foreign born be
expressed as percentages of the Canadian rate, the proportions are as follows: —
Canadian born.. .. • 100
Other British 151
Foreign 262
74422—12
178
RELATION OF ORIGINS AND NATIVITY TO CRIME
It is seen that the rate for the British immigrants is larger by half than that for the
Canadian born, and the proportion convicted among those of foreign birth is two and a half
times greater. The problem is to determine how much of these differences is due to sex
and age distribution especially favourable to crime.
In an appendix to this Chapter, the method of making corrections for age and sex
distribution in the different nativity groups and the actual calculations are given in detail,
and those who may be interested in the mathematics of the problem are referred thereto.
The rate was computed for each nativity group on the basis of the rates for Canada, as a
whole as given in Table 108; allowances were made for the extent to which the age and sex
distribution of the three nativity groups differed from that of the total population of the
Dominion in 1921. In other words, a uniform crime rate was assumed in all classes of the
population, and rates were computed for the Canadian, ' Other British ' and Foreign born,
which take into account merely differences in age and sex distribution. The rates so
computed were expressed as percentages of the rate for those of Canadian birth, and the
differences appearing are due entirely to age and sex. The results appear below, together
tvith the crude rates quoted below: —
TABLE 109— ACTUAL NUMBER OF CONVICTIONS FOR INDICTABLE OFFENCES IN CANADA IN 1921
BY BROAD NATIVITY GROUPS AND THE RATES PER 100,000 POPULATION OF EACH GROUP.
Birthplace
Number of
convictions
Rate per
100,000 of
each group
Rate with
Canadian-born
taken as 100
10,638
2,509
3,624
2,625
156
236
408
100
151 .
262
TABLE 110— COMPARATIVE RATES OF CRIMINALITY AMONG THE CANADIAN-BORN, BRITISH-
BORN AND FOREIGN-BORN POPULATIONS OF CANADA. WITH THE BIAS DUE TO DIF-
FERING AGE AND SEX DISTRIBUTIONS OF THESE POPULATIONS REMOVED.
Note. — Rates among the Canadian-born population = 100 in each case.
(1)
U)
(3)
Expected rates of
Ratio of actual con-
convictions on the
victions to expected
basis of uniform
Actual rates
convictions, indi-
criminality in each
convictions
cating real di ff er-
Birthplace
group, and of the
in 1921
ence in criminality
existing age and sex
apart from age and
distribution of each
sex distribution of
group.
population.
(Col. 2 + Col. 1).
100
155
100
151
100
98
172
262
152
On the basis of the number of indictable convictions per 100,000 of each age and
sex group as shown in Table 108 above, the ' Other British ' born would have shown a rate
55 p.c. greater than the Canadian born and the Foreign born a rate 72 p.c. greater, merely
because of larger proportions of young men in the prime of life and smaller percentages of
women and children. The proportion by which the actual rate for the ' Other British '
exceeded that for the Canadian born was 51 p.c, which indicates that the whole difference
between the crude rates for the Canadian and ' Other British ' born may be accounted for
on the basis of age and sex distribution. The same does not hold for the foreign born.
The actual rate exceeded that for the Canadian born by 162 p.c, and only 72 p.c. of that
excess is attributable to an age and sex distribution more favourable to crime. The conclusion
obviously is that, in so far as convictions for indictable offences are an index of criminality,
disregard for the law among the foreign born is some 152 p.c. (i.e |~|-§- ) of what it is among
the Canadian bom, and that after due allowances are made for differences of age and sex
distribution. It is shown in the appendix that the difference is probably greater than the
ORIGIN AND NATIVITY OF REFORMATORY POPULATION 179
The assumption is not warranted, however, that the corrected crime rate for immigrants
from every foreign country is approximately half as large again as that for the Canadian
born. In fact, the subsequent analysis of reformatory and penitentiary population suggest
that such is not the case. Some nationalities probably show as small, if not smaller pro- _
portions convicted of indictable offences than do the Canadian born of all origins, while
others show much larger proportions.. Unfortunately, available data are not adequate to
push the analysis further in connection with indictable offences, but the more exhaustive
examination of reformatory and penitentiary population below throws much light on the
question.
ORIGIN AND NATIVITY OF THE REFORMATORY POPULATION
The census data covering the population in reformatories for Canada, as on June 1,
1921, have been analysed and throw considerable direct light on the criminal tendencies of
the youth of Canada. Information as to origin, birthplace and sex has been tabulated, and
the most important facts are presented in Tables 111 and 112.
Sex and Birthplace. — Table 111 shows the total reformatory population classified as
Canadian born, other British born and Foreign born and by sex. It is seen in the first place
that less than a fifth as many girls a.s boys between the ages of 10 and 20 are in reformatories,
and the proportions are remarkably uniform irrespective of birthplace. Thus whether the
young people are born in Canada, in other parts of the British Empire or in foreign
countries, only a comparatively small proportion of girls commit offences which result in their
detention in reformatories, while much larger numbers of boys get into such trouble that
they are taken from their homes and committed to the discipline of a state institution.
This differential character of the criminal propensity is a matter of common knowledge, and
persists in adult life. However, the number in reformatories is not by any means an
accurate index as to difference in behaviour between the sexes, for it is probable that a'
youth would be comimitted to a reform institution miuch more readily than a young woman
for an equally serious offence. There is no doubt, however, that a great difference does
exist, and the point is merely that the percentages in reformatories slightly overemphasize it.
A second inference follows directly upon the uniformity of the proportions irrespective
of place of birth; when large numbers of boys commit offences large numbers of girls in the
same broad nativity group also commit them and vice versa. This point is made clearer
on referring to the lower part of the table. It is seen that 113 out of every 100,000 Canadian
born between the ages of 10 and 20 are in reformatories, that the rate is 215 per 100,000 for
the British born and 213 per 100,000 for the foreign born. A marked difference thus appears
between the proportions of Canadian born on the one hand and British born and foreign
born on the other. Now an analysis of Table 67, Vol. II of the Census, shows that the
differences in the proportion of the sexes as between the Canadian, British and Foreign born
population 10-20 years of age are negligible, so that direct comparison of the above rates is
not invalidated by considerations of sex distribution. It is thus safe to conclude that the
high figures for the British and foreign1 born are not due to especially bad behaviour on the
part of the boys any more than on the part of the girls. They are equally culpable. ■ On the
other hand, the low rate for the Canadian born is due to the good behaviour of both the
young men and the young women born in this country. It is interesting that our analysis
gives definite evidence of the fact that in so far as such broad nativity classes have any
reality as population groups, where the boys are well-behaved so are the girls, and where
the boys are badly behaved the girls are also unruly.
A further word should be said about the rates for the British and foreign born. They
are nearly double that for the Canadian born. Yet, just as the proportion in the reforma-
tories is not an- accurate index of the behaviour as between the two sexes, so it is not a
fair criterion of conduct as between the British and foreign born and the Canadian born.
The reason is somewhat similar. It is probable in. many cases that a foreign born youth
would be comimitted to a reformatory more readily than a Canadian born or a
British born child, because the court is less certain that the necessary correction will be
administered in a home where the parents have come from a foreign land and presumably
are not as conversant with Canadian ideals or standards as parents of Canadian' and British
birth.
74422—12}
180
RELATION OF ORIGINS AND NATIVITY TO CRIME
The high rate for the British born may be partially explained by the urban character
of British immigration. It was shown in Table 54, Chapter V, that of the total foreign
born in Canada 45.68 p.c. were domiciled in urban areas, while some 64.88 p.c. of those bom
in the British Isles were urban residents. The differences are somewhat greater for the age
group 10-20 years. While 45.4 p.c. of the Canadian born children 10-20 years of age were
in urban districts, 66.6 p.c. of those born in other parts of the British Empire are classed
as of urban residence. The foreign born of the same age group show only 43.5 p.c. in
incorporated cities, towns and villages. (Ref. Table 97, Vol. II, Census 1921.) Thus the
proportion of British born children in urban districts is approximately half again as large
as that of the Canadian or foreign born. The extent to which urban residence is more
favourable to apprehension for misconduct is unfortunately indeterminate, but the difference
is probably very considerable. However that may be, the conclusion is warranted that, in
so far as urban environment is more conducive to crime, the large proportion in reforma-
tories among those of British birth from other parts of the Empire may be partially
explained on the basis of urban concentration. The high rate for the foreign born, on the
other hand, is not mitigated by considerations of rural and urban distribution, but is
rather slightly accentuated when compared with that for the Canadian born.
TABLE 111— REFORMATORY POPULATION, BY SEX AND BIRTHPLACE, 1921. .
Items
Total
Reformatory
population
Canadian-
.born
Reformatory
population
Other
British-born
Reformatory
population
Foreign-bom
Reformatory
population
Total
2,413
2,036
377
84-4
15-6
1,767
1,490
277
84-3
" 15-7
321
273
48
85-1
150
325
273
52
84-0
160
1,861,526
130
1,559,839
113
149,072
215
152,615
213
Passing now to the relation between birthplace of parents and the number of children
in reformatories, attention is directed to Table 112, which shows the parentage of the
Canadian born reformatory population. It is most surprising to find that the Canadian
born children of British born parents show by far the highest proportion in institutions of
correction, and the .Canadian born children of foreign born parents show the lowest. This
is all the more striking in the light of the previous table1, which showed such high rates
for both the foreign born and British born children. It thus appears that while the foreign
born children as a group are rather badly behaved, the Canadian born children of foreign
born parents conduct themselves unusually well. This fact is quite contrary . to current
o'pinion.
Reference will be made later to the difference in the rates for the foreign born
children and the Canadian born children of foreign born parents in Canada, but a few
words might appropriately be inserted here in connection with the amazing difference between
the British born child and the Canadian born child of British born parents. It must be
remembered that the war period occurred during the decade previous to 1921, and the
percentage of British born men who left their homes and went overseas was much larger
than that of any other nativity group in the population. No great numbers of the foreign
born fathers, on the other hand, were in the army during the war, and further, the necessity
of good behaviour, especially among foreigners of enemy origin, undoubtedly had a very
salutary effect on the discipline administered in the home. With the absence of such a
large proportion of British born fathers from the outbreak of the war, it is hardly to be
wondered at that the proportion of Canadian born children of British born parentage found
in reformatories in 1921 reflects the absence of parental discipline which inevitably must
have occurred. Contrary to the normal expectation, the Canadian-born children of British
born parents showed practically no improvement in respect to reformatory commitments
over *he children of similar parentage born outside Canada.
PARENTAGE OF CANADIAN BORN IN REFORMATORIES
181
No great importance can be attached to any generalizations based on the section of
the -table under the heading "mixed parentage". The number of cases is so small that
one is not justified in assuming them to be representative.
Taking the figures as they stand, however, they suggest that the most desirable parentage
from the standpoint of the proportion of children in the reformatories in 1921 was where
the fathers were Canadian and the mothers foreign born. Where the mothers were Canadian
born and the fathers foreign born, it was only slightly less desirable. For both of the above
types of mixed parentage, the proportions in reformatories are much lower than when both
parents are Canadian born. The influence of British parentage on the high proportion
of Canadian born children in reformatories is reflected in the percentages where one parent
is British born and the other is foreign. The rate per 100,000 in reformatories is higher
than where both parents are foreign born, and the explanation is doubtless at least in part
related to the consideration mentioned above in respect to the differential effect of the
war on the various classes of the population in Canada. The tentative nature of the
conclusions in this paragraph should be borne in mind.
TABLE 112— PARENTAGE OF THE CANADIAN-BORN REFORMATORY POPULATION, 1921.
Both Parents
Mixed Parentage
—
Total
Canadian
Canadian
born
British-
born
Foreign-
born
Father
Canadian,
mother
Foreign
Father
Foreign,
mother
Canadian
Oneparent
British,
other
Foreign
Oneparent
Canadian,
other
British
1,767
1,559,839
113
1,289
1,184,279
109
187
91,473
204
96
129,865
74
15
27,009
56
16
25,325
63
17
9,569
178
99
Number in reformatories per
100,000 population 10-20 years...
90,089
110
1 Includes 48, parentage not specified.
Origin and Birthplace. — Table 113 (p. 183) gives the reformatory population of Canada in
1921 by ' origin ' and broad nativity groups, and Table 114 assembles 'the data for European
stocks in geographical and linguistic classes. In certain minor cases figures are not available
to complete the tables, but for all the important stocks the tables are complete. A careful
study will reveal many interesting facts, but only a few of the most important will be
mentioned. .
■ First, as to the relation between birthplace and proportion in reformatories. An idea
has been prevalent that the foreign born adults are on the whole . quite law-abiding, but
the children of foreign born parents break away from parental authority and become a very
grave social problem. The reasoning is somewhat as follows: the child, through his school
and associations with children outside the home, readily acquires a knowledge of the
English or French language, learns Canadian customs and manners and soon is more
familiar with the new country than his parents, who are less ready to give up their native
habits and learn Canadian ways. The result is that the child tends to feel that he knows
a great deal more than his parents about other things as well; the parental authority is
weakened and the discipline of the home suffers. The statistics for Canadian reformatories
are not inconsistent with that thesis, though they cannot be used to prove it. They rather
localize the problem as far as the birthplace of the child is concerned.
The number per 100,000 in reformatories of the children born outside of Canada in
1921 was 214, while the proportion among the Canadian born was only 113. This fact means
that the chance of an immigrant born child being in a reformatory was, on the average,
90 p.c. greater than that for a Canadian born child. But it may be thought that the figure
for the Canadian born is unduly influenced by the low rates among the Canadian born
proportions of a few of the stocks whose residence in Canada has been of several generations
and whose children are comparatively law abiding. If that be the case, such a comparison
would be invalidated by differences of origin and would prove nothing as to the influence of
birthplace. An examination of Table 113, however, shows that for almost every stock,
182 RELATION OF ORIGINS AND NATIVITY TO CRIME
where the number in reformatories is greater than six, the rate for those born outside Canada
is higher than for the Canadian born of the same origin. Among the Indians there was only
one foreign born child in a reformatory and the higher rate for the foreign born in that
case was purely accidental. There are only three other exceptions, namely, the Danes and
Syrians, with a total in reformatories of three each, and the Swedes with a total of six. On
the other hand, where the numbers are sufficiently large to be representative, the difference
is well defined. Indeed for many stocks, the proportions for the foreign born children in
reformatories are several times as great as for the Canadian born' of the same stock, and
in all cases except the four mentioned above, there are very significant differences.
Two conclusions follow directly from the above. First, other things being equal, our
greatest problem is with the delinquent child born outside Canada; and secondly, that the
schools and other Canadianizing agencies are exerting a great influence in reducing child
delinquency.
Further light is also thrown by these tables on the rates for Anglo-Saxon children of
Canadian and immigrant birth. The figures for the English, Scotch and Irish in Table 113
indicate that the children of the English speaking stocks born outside Canada have much
higher percentages in reformatories than those of the English speaking stocks borlni in this
country. The immigrant children of British stock show larger proportions in reformatories
than the Canadian born children of British stock. From the discussion of parentage above,
it appears that in recent years the improvement in the rate for the British stock has
occurred in the third and subsequent generations of residence in Canada. That was prob-
ably the result of the abnormal situation in the years immediately preceding 1921.
But the analysis may be pushed still further. We saw that among the Canadian born
children of foreign born parents only 74 per 100,000 were in reformatories. The question
arises as to the rate for the foreign stocks in the third and subsequent generations. The
number of Canadian born children in reformatories of specified non-British and non-French
origin, as shown in the central section of Table 113, totalled 125. The total Canadian born
population of these origins between ten and twenty years of age was 204,459, and the rate
per 100,000 works out to 62.
Since the rate for the Canadian born children of foreign born parents was 7.4 and that
for all Canadian born children of the same origins was only 62, it is obvious that the pro-
portion in reformatories among the Canadian born children of Canadian born parents of
foreign stock was even lower than the rate of the total Canadian born of foreign stocks,
viz., lower than 62 per 100,000. Thus, while the rate for *he foreign bom children of
foreign stocks was over 200 and that for the Canadian born children of foreign born parents
was 74, we now find that the proportion for the Canadian born children of Canadian born
parents of foreign origin must have been the lowest of all. It would appear, then, that the
number of juvenile offenders in the third and subsequent generations of non-British and
non-French stocks in Canada was very small' indeed'.
However, there is danger in too hasty generalization. In the first place, there are con-
siderably larger numbers among the Canadian born reformatory population, whose origin
is unspecified, than the total number in reformatories of Canadian born children of foreign
stocks whose origin is recorded. How many of the unspecified are of the British and French
stocks and how many are of foreign stocks cannot be determined. If half of them were
of foreign stocks, the rate of 62 per 100,000 would be increased to 100 per 100,000. Even
that, however, is not high. Indeed it is only two-thirds the number per 100,000 for the
Canadian born and for the English stock.
But another question arises, is the low rate" for the Canadian born of foreign stocks
due mainly to Canadianizing influences or is it primarily a matter of origin? How far, in
other words, is the rate reduced by the figures for the older residents like the Dutch, Germans
and Indians, whose numbers are very large in Canada and whose children show abnormally
small proportions in the reformatories irrespective of birthplace? The influence must be
considerable, because these three stocks comprised' nearly half the total children of
non-British and non-French stocks between the ages of 10 and 20 years in Canada in 1921.
High' Tates among the Canadian born of certain other origins, who are as yet relatively
ORIGINS OF REFORMATORY POPULATION
183
small in numbers in Canada, would have an insignificant influence on the rate for the
total. So before arriving at any definite conclusion, an examination must be made of the
relation between origins and reformatory population.
TABLE 113.-REFORMATORY POPULATION IN CANADA, BY ORIGIN AND BIRTHPLACE, 1921.
Origin
Total
Total
reform-
atory
population
Total.
English
Irish
Scotch
Welsh
French
Austrian
Belgium
Bulgarian
Chinese
Czech
Danish
Dutch
Finnish
German
Greek
Hebrew
Hungarian
Icelandic
Indian
Italian
Japanese
Lithuanian
Negro
Norwegian
Polish
Roumanian
Russian
Swedish
Serbo-Croatian..
Swiss
Syrian
Ukrainian
Unspecified
Various
Total
population
10-20 yrs.
2,413
834
210
224
13
596
37
1
1
27
Number
in reform-
atories
per 100,000
population
10-20 yrs
1,861,526
497,577
218,379
223,587
7,753
602,223
23,230
4,367
146
3,353
2,120
4,201
25,206
4,410
65,913
540
32,708
3,146
3,551
29,372
11,883
1,291
390
3,655
13,783
11,373
2,266
23,165
12,354
683
2,414
1,784
24,467
1,483
814
Total
reform-
atory
population
130
168
96
100
167
99
159
23
685
268
0
71
28
113
42
370
46
32
0
54
370
0
602
15
317
177
285
49
292
0
168
0
134
332
Canadian-born
Total
population
10-20 yrs.
1,767
592
150
154
5
576
9
0
0
1
0
2
5
0
14
0
15
16
0
0
17
0
20
0
19
4
0
2
0
158
Number
in reform-
atories
per 100,000
population
10-20 yrs.
1,559,839
375,366
197,745
181,769
585,817
16,719
1,801
732
1,230
2,382
21,756
2,310
51,048
15,971
2,026
- 2,981
26,741
6,595
553
3,076
5,551
7,629
1,257
13,906
6,155
1,773
1,343
10,924
Total
reform-
atory
population
113
158
76
85
54
0
0
137
0
84
23
0
27
6
0
0
56
243
0
553
0
262
0
137
65
0
149
0
Immigrant-born
Total
population
10-20 yrs.
646
242
60
70
8
20
28
1
1
8
0
1
2
5
14
2
14
1
0
1
28
0
5
2
16
4
47
2
2
0
1
0
41
Number
in reform-
atories
per 100,000
population
10-20 yrs.
301,687
122,211
20,634
41,818
16,406
6,511
2,566
2,621
890
1,369
345
2,100
14,865
16,737
1,120
570
2,831
5,288
738
579
8,232
3,744
1,009
9,259
6,199
641
441
13,543
214
198
291
167
122
430
305
0
73
58
238
94
0
35
530
0
864
24
427
396
508
32
0
227
0
The reader is referred to Table 114 (p. 186). which groups the reformatory popu-
lation of European origin by geographical and linguistic classes. This table presents the
distribution of reformatory population in respect of origin only and neglects birthplace
entirely. The data so classified are of interest because they show the proportions of the
different stocks which, under conditions existing in 1921, were confined in Canadian reforma-
tories. It should be kept in mind, however, that the differences are by no means entirely
due to origin; nativity and probably other factors enter in.
The situation in 1921 was briefly as follows. The proportion of children of North
Western European stocks in reformatories in Canada was 36 per 100,000, that of the South,
Eastern and Central European 184, or a rate five times greater. Passing to the linguistic
classifications, the rates for the Scandinavian and Germanic peoples were by far the lowest.
They were about one-fifth that for the Slavic group and one-tenth that for the Latins and
Greeks. Or put conversely, the number per 100,000 Latin and Greek children in reforma-
tories in Canada, was over ten times as great as the number per 100,000 Scandinavians,
and almost ten times as great as the rate for the Germanic children. Taking birthplace as
in 1921, the problem of the Latin and Greek children, in proportion to their numbers, was
therefore approximately ten times greater than that of the children of Germanic and Scan-
dinavian origin.
The rate for the Slavic group was 166 or 22 p.c. higher than that for the English
speaking peoples and some 70 p.c. higher than that for the French people. Even at that,
however, it is not as high as it should be, because no returns are shown for the Ukrainians.
A little less than a third of the children in the Slavic group in Canada are of Ukrainian
origin, yet not one appears in the origin records for the reformatories. The Ukrainian
184
RELATION OF ORIGINS AND NATIVITY TO CRIME
children must have been exceedingly well behaved, have been disciplined within their own
community, or have given some other origin — or none at all — to the reformatory officials.
Taking the three other Slavic groups, the rate for the Poles is almost as great as that for
the Italians and Greeks. The Russians also show an abnormally high proportion, but the
figure for the Austrians is lower than that for the English or Welsh. For some reason
or other an unusually low proportion of Austrian children of Canadian birth appears in
the reformatory records, and it is this low figure for the Canadian born Austrian which
explains the low;rate for the Austrians as a whole. The rate for the foreign-born of Austrian
origin is 430 — one of the highest.
The rate for the French in Canada is much lower than that for the English or Welsh
people, and about as large as that for the Irish and the Scotch. It is interesting to note
in passing that, among the Scandinavians, the Icelanders and Norwegians show the smallest
proportion and the Danes and the Swedes the largest.
The principal problem, however, is to determine how far such differences are due to
origin and how far to birthplace. The term " origin " so used is not restricted to its
biological connotation, but, as explained earlier in this report, is intended to embrace those
cultural, and other differences which combine with the biological to determine the common
characteristics of a group.
Referring again to Table 113, an examination of the origins for the different nativity
groups will show that in most stocks where high rates obtain for the foreign born children,
large proportions are found in reformatories among the Canadian born as well. For purpose'
of illustration, one may select a few foreign stocks where the numbers in reformatories
are so large as to be fairly representative.
• Stocks
I
. . I . ,■
Canadian-born
children in
reformatories
Foreign-born
children in
reformatories
$ \ ■
Kate per
100,000
553
262
243
137
27
113
Rate per
100,000
864
427
530
508
94
214
Very marked differences are seen to exist between individual stocks quite independent
of nativity, but before venturing any generalization, the following data for groups of stocks
should be inserted.
Stocks
Canadian-born
children in
reformatories
Foreign-born
children in
reformatories
Rate per
100,000
27
102
35
25
204
95
Rate per
100,000
63
297
31
97
508
268
For all groups except the Scandinavians, the numbers on which the above rates are
based were reasonably adequate to ensure their reliability. It is pointed out, in the first
place, that the rate for the foreign born children in the South, Eastern and Central
European stocks was 4£ times greater than that for the foreign born children of the North
Western European stocks, and the rate for the Canadian born children of South, Eastern
and Central European origin was nearly 4 times greater than that for the Canadian born
of the North Western European origin. These compaiisons are not vitiated by nativity.
Such differences are primarily due to origins and are further illustrated by the data for
the linguistic groups. The rates for the Latin and Greek group are in a class by them-
selves. They are several times greater than the corresponding rates for either the Scandi-
navian or Germanic groups and about twice as great as those for the Slavs. While the
FOREIGN BORN AND CANADIAN BORN IN REFORMATORIES
185
figures for the Slavs are considerably below those for the Latin and Greek group, the
foreign born children of the Slavic group show in turn nearly twice as large a proportion
in reformatories as is found among the Germanic children, and the Canadian born children
of Slavic origin nearly four times as large a proportion. (See Chart 32).
Such evidence is more or less conclusive, as to the existence of differences among
children of different origins as to crime. It will be shown in the section on penitentiary
population that such differences are paralleled among adults, but before leaving the
reformatory data it is proposed to analyze briefly the effect on juvenile delinquency of a
factor already referred to as being primarily due to differences in origin, namely, rural
and urban distribution.
Chart XXXII
RATE per 100.000 in REFORMATORIES™ FOREIGN BORN ano
CANADIAN BORN CHILDREN of SPECIFIED ORIGINS.
RATt PER 100,000
100 200 300
400
500
600
N. Western Europe
(continental)
S.,Eastern and Cent. EimJ
Scan oi
NAVIAN
1ERMANIC
Latin ano Greeiv
Slavic
■Ml
m
FOREIGN
CANADIAN
JORN|B
* W/////M
,-■' ''.:.. :. . ~- -•''■ •- ' • L |
'///////////////// ^^BM
Hi
///////////////////////////////
W//////////////A
^^^^^ 1
1
Rural and Urban Distribution. — The figures seem to suggest that urban* residence is
usually associated with a larger proportion in reformatories. The Poles are the most urban
of the Slavs. They show the highest proportion in reformatories. The Italians and Greeks
are more urban than the Roumanians and show much higher Tates. Indeed they are the
most urban of all South, Eastern and Central Europeans and with the exception of the
unreliable rate for the Bulgarians, theirs is the highest of any people coming from that
section of Europe. The Scandinavian and Germanic peoples, in addition to being the
oldest settlers in Canada outside of the French and the British, are also essentially rural
peoples. Their rates, as we have seen, are exceedingly low. The British stocks, on the
other hand, are among our most urban, especially the British immigrants, and that fact
probably helps to account for the comparatively high rate shown for the British stock.
There seems to be little doubt that the stocks who show the greatest tendency to concen-
trate in cities usually have larger proportions of their children in reformatories and vise versa.
And now reverting to the unanswered question at the close of the last sub-section, it
can be stated with some assurance that the figure for the third and subsequent generations
of non-British stocks in Canada is unduly low, primarily because of the veryi low rates
which characterize the older of the immigrant stocks of Canada, especially the Germanic
and the Scandinavian. Greater length of residence has an important influence on child
18P
RELATION OF ORIGINS AND NATIVITY TO CRIME
delinquency, but with both the Scandinavian and Germanic stocks showing lower rates
than the British and French stocks in Canada, the conclusion is forced upon one that child
delinquency is also very largely a matter of origin. The probability is that when a stock
shows high proportions of reformatory population among its foreign born children and
among its first generation of Canadian born, relatively large percentages will exist in subse-
quent generations. Thus the new arrivals show high rates not merely because of their
length of residence. The proportion of a population in reformatories is also and perhaps
primarily a matter of origin and heredity.
TABLE 114.-REFORMATORY POPULATION IN CANADA, BY GROUPS OP ORIGINS, 1921.
Origin
Number
in
reforma-
tories
Total
population
(10-20
years)
No. in
reforma-
tories
per 100,000
population
North West European —
1
3
7
28
0
2
6
0
4,367
4,201
25,206
65,913
3,551
13,783
12,354
2,414
23
71
Dutch
28
42
0
15
49
0
Total
47
131,789
36
South, Eastern and Central European —
37
1
0
5
2
1
44
0
36
4
66
2
0
23,230
146
2,120
4,410
540
3,146
11,883
390
11,373
2,266
23,165
683
24,467
159
685
0
113
370
32
370
0
Polish
317
177
285
292
0
Total
108
107,819
184
Scandinavian —
3
0
2
6
4,201
3,551
13,783
12,354
71
0
15
49
Total
11
33,889
32
Germanic —
1
7
28
4,367
25,206
65,913
23
28
42
Total ;
36
95,486
38
Latin and Greeks-
2
44
4
540
11,883
2,266
370
370
177
Total....:
SO
14,689
340
British—
834
210
224
13
497,577
218,379
223.587
7,763
168
96
100
Welsh
167
Total :
1,281
947,306
135
Slavic —
37
1
0
0
36
66
2
0
23,230
146
2,120
390
11,373
23,165
683
24,467
159
685
0
0
Polish
317
285
292
0
Total.
142
85,574
166
ORIGINS AND BIRTHPLACES OF PENITENTIARY POPULATION 187
ORIGINS AND BIRTHPLACES OF PENITENTIARY POPULATION
Introduction.. — Those committed to penitentiaries include only such as have been con-
victed of serious offences against the criminal code. Consequently, penitentiary statistics
do not entirely reflect criminality as between different groups in a population. Breaches of
the law might be of considerable frequency in a community and the proportions in peni-
tentiaries be small, because members of that community very rarely committed crimes of
a serious nature. Further, certain people may be clever enough to work within the letter
of the law, yet pursue predatory occupations which are as criminal in intent and as serious
in their effects on society as those so-called major offences which result in the commit-
ment of others to penitentiaries. Besides, those in penitentiaries at a given time include
many who have been there for ten,, fifteen, twenty or more years, so that changes in the
composition of that group do not reflect changing tendencies in crime as quickly as data
covering the actual admissions in various periods. Yet, while the composition of the peni-
tentiary population at any given date is not an entirely satisfactory index of criminal
propensity among the various sections of our population, the census of penitentiary popula-
tion nevertheless throws much light on the tendency to crime.
It is possible, as has been pointed out, that in certain nativity and ' origin ' groups,
major offences are rare while minor offences are unusually common, so that the number in
penitentiaries is comparatively small in spite of a very general disregard for the law. On
the other hand, it is very improbable that in a group where major offences are frequent,
one would find respect for the law in less important matters. The conclusion seems
warranted, then, that where large numbers of a given group are found in our penitentiaries
there is probably a very general disregard for law, and many minor offences are committed.
While normally the converse would seem to apply, namely, that where there are few
convictions for major offences the group is generally quite law abiding, there are never-
theless sections of the community in which minor offences are very frequent and major
offences rare. The conditions in such sections of the population are not reflected in peni-
tentiary data. However, it may be assumed in most cases where the penitentiary rate is
high that minor crimes are also comparatively frequent, and if the converse assumption
cannot be made in all cases, the penitentiary data, by furnishing a more or less accurate
index of the frequency of major offences, draw attention to those groups whose general
behaviour is bad. Thus the data presented in this section may properly be regarded as
giving proof of certain important differences between various nativity and ' origin ' groups
in our population, in respect not only of major offences against society but also of conduct
in general.
On June 1, 1921, there were 2,282 prisoners distributed as follows in the six peniten-
tiaries of Canada: —
Male Female
Dorchester, N.B 340 13
St. Vincent de Paul, Que 573
Kingston, Ont 767 25
Stony Mountain, Man 206
Prince Albert, Sask 193
New Westminster, B.C 165
It is with the population as listed above at the date of the last census that this study deals.
While the number is not great, at least it is sufficiently large to warrant such broad
generalizations as are made below, and where very small numbers occur in the analysis,
the actual figures are inserted as well as the rates per 100,000, so that the size of the
sample on which the conclusions are based may be known to the reader, and due allowances
made. The rates shown in the following tables are correct to the first whole number
throughout. While they have been computed to the second decimal place in the work
tables, such detail is not warranted by the size of the population under review, and its
inclusion would merely make the tables more difficult to read.
188
RELATION OF ORIGINS AND NATIVITY TO CRIME
Age and Sex Distribution oj the Penitentiary Population. — Table 115 shows the numbers
in penitentiaries in Canada per 100,000 for each sex and quinquennial age group. Two facts
are clearly established by that table. First, crime is many times more prevalent among men
than women. Consequently, other things being equal, where there is a large surplus of males,
there' will' tend to be very much more crime. If one applies that test to immigration,
it is apparent that a country which sends a great surplus of males to Canada would be
sending proportionately more criminals than were it to send men and women in more equal
numbers. It follows, then, that from the standpoint of crime, the most desirable immigra-
tion is that in which the numbers of the sexes are most nearly equal, and the least desirable
is that in which the excess of males is greatest. Of course other factors besides sex distribu-
tion are involved, such as origin, birthplace, rural and urban distribution, etc. Neglecting
such other factors, however, the above generalization is warranted by the figures under review.
The second point to note is that the most criminal age group, as indicated by the
penitentiary population, is between 20 and 24 years inclusive. The five year group, 25 to
29 years, comes a close second. It must be recalled, however, that the age distribution
of penitentiary population does not refer to the age of admission, and consequently does
not accurately reflect the age at which the crimes were committed. On the average the
date of committing the various crimes for which the prisoners under review were committed
was somewhat prior to the date of the census, and in so far as the rates are used as an
index of criminality at the different ages, allowances must be made for a 'lag 'in the age
groups of perhaps a year and a half to two years.
However, the data are sufficiently accurate to warrant the statement that the ages for
which the crime rate is highest are in the twenties, — especially the early twenties, — and
the corollary follows that in those sections of the population where large numbers are
concentrated at those ages, proportionately more crime of a serious nature is to be
expected.
In Chapter III reference was made to the unusual age distribution of the foreign born
in Canada and particularly to the marked concentration in the early years of adult man-
hood. Thus, one of the normal penalties of a large inflow of immigrants is a high crime
rate in so far as that is dependent on the presence of large proportions of the ages at
which criminality is most marked.
Summarising, then, the examination of penitentiary population shows clearly that a
large surplus of males and a marked concentration of ages in the twenties and early
thirties makes for greater criminality in a population, and from the point of view of.
immigration, where the inflow consists largely of males in the prime of life, the crime
rate will normally be exceptionally high.
TABLE 115— NUMBER IN PENITENTIARIES IN CANADA PER 100,000 POPULATION OF EACH SEX, BY
QUINQUENNIAL AGE GROUPS, 1921.
—
Total
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60 and
over
Total
26
60
1
33
65
83
166
2
64
124
3
46
85
3
37
65
3
36
66
22
40
1
20
36
1
19
36
8
15
Note. — Where (— ) is inserted the rate is less than 0-5 per 100,000.
Conjugal Condition oj the Penitentiary Population. — Only a few remarks are necessary
regarding Table 116. The rates shown indicate that higher proportions of widowed and
single males were in the penitentiaries in 1921 than of married men. Not only is that
true for the total male population of penitentiaries at all ages, but it is true also for
each age group. Where a population shows an unusually large proportion of young
unmarried men or of widowers, the crime rate tends to be high. The actual numbers in
the case of women are hardly large enough to warrant any definite generalization, although
it is interesting that in the data for 1921 the widows showed the highest proportions in
penitentiaries, and the single women the lowest.
BIRTHPLACE OF PENITENTIARY POPULATION
189
TABLE 116— NUMBER IN PENITENTIARIES, MALE AND FEMALE, CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO CON-
JUGAL CONDITION; AND NUMBER PER 100,000 POPULATION OF EACH GROUP, 1921.
Conjugal condition
Number
Rate per 100,000
Both
sexes
Male
Female
Both
sexes
Male
Female
Total
2,282
1,507
688
85
2
2,244
1,495
668
79
2
38
12
20
6
0
26
30
21
24
27
50
55
39
66
55
1
-CD
1
3
0
(1) Less than 0-5 per 100,000.
Birthplace oj the Penitentiary Population. — Table 117 classifies the penitentiary popula-
tion by quinquennial age and broad nativity groups. The rates for the females by birthplace
are unreliable because the actual numbers are comparatively small, but the figures for
both sexes and more particularly for the male portion of the penitentiary population are
significant.
In the first-place, it is pointed out that of the total population 15 years of age and
over, 26 per 100,000 were in penitentiaries in Canada in 1921. For the Canadian born the
rate was as low as 19 per 100,000; for the British born it was 27; but for the foreign born
it was 75. This means that with the age and sex distribution obtaining at the date of the
census, the foreign born showed a proportion in penitentiaries nearly three' times that of the
British born and four times that of the Canadian born. Of course the sex and age distribu-
tion of the foreign born is especially favourable to crime, and the rates quoted must not be
taken to mean that foreign immigrants are inherently more criminal in their behaviour than
the Canadian and British born by the proportions indicated. The data do mean, however,
that so long as the age and sex distribution remains abnormal and the same types of immi-
grants come to this country as have been coming in recent years, the situation in the foreign
born section of our population will continue substantially as depicted. Immigration has
been bringing into this country groups of people among whom the crime rate, with respect
to major offences, has been four times greater than that among those of native birth.
But it is important to know whether, independent of sex and age distribution, the
foreign and British born show higher or lower rates than the Canadian born. , In other words,
is there a . basic difference associated with birthplace which persists when adjustment is
made for differences in age and sex composition of the population? If so, how important
is it? •
Turning our attention to the centre section of Table 117, which gives the proportion for
males alone, it is seen that for all Canada, 50 out of each 100,000 males 15 years and over
were in penitentiaries. The rate for Canadian born males was 38, for the British born 49,
but for the foreign born 127. Thus, when the male penitentiary population is related to
the total male population 15 years of age and over for each nativity group, it is found that
the foreign born males show over three times the proportion in penitentiaries shown by the
Canadian born and over two and a half times that for the British born.
But the age distribution of the immigrants is abnormal, and it may be thought that the
concentration in the early adult ages is adequate to account for the differences in the rates
between the different nativity groups. That such is not the case is evident on comparing
the rates for the corresponding quinquennial age groups. At every age the proportion of
the foreign born in penitentiaries was very much greater than that of the Canadian born.
Indeed, between 15 and 60 years of age there are only four quinquennial age groups where
the rate for the foreign born males was not 'more than twice that for the Canadian born,
and in two of those four cases, the rate for the foreign born was only slightly less than
double that for the Canadian born. Thus, when the sex factor is eliminated and the rates for
similar age groups compared, it is evident that the foreign born show about twice the pro-
portion in penitentiaries shown by the Canadian born and that such differences are associ-
ated with nativity. Age and sex corrections are not adequate to account for the differences
which appear in the crude totals. With considerations of age and sex eliminated, the foreigD
190
RELATION OF ORIGINS AND NATIVITY TO CRIME
born as a group are less law-abiding than the Canadian born by 'half, in respect to major
offences at least, and when we take them as they are, with large surpluses of males and
abnormal age distribution, their crime rate is four times greater.
The fact, moreover, should not be overlooked, that the age and sex distribution of immi-
grants will continue to be unusually favourable to crime. When one thinks of the actual
problem of law enforcement as it exists in Canada to-day and will exist in the immediate
future, it is by the proportion four to one rather than two to one that the authorities must
measure the criminal tendency of the foreign as compared with the Canadian born. Or, to
state the problem in another way, the difficulty of law enforcement among the foreign born
is four times as great in proportion to their numbers as among the Canadian born and this
situation in respect to serious criminal offences will tend to persist with immigration on the
present basis.
The rate for the British born is somewhat higher than that for the Canadian born for
the early ages, that is, up to 25. This confirms the previous suggestion that the absence of
the British born fathers during the war had a serious effect on the discipline of the children.
Between 25 and 40 years the rates for the British born are lower than for the Canadian
born, and above 40 years they are somewhat higher, though the actual numbers are so small
that no great weight should be laid on the individual figures. On the whole it seems safe to
say that the British born showed somewhat larger percentages in penitentiaries than the
Canadian born in 1921.
TABLE 117— NUMBER IN PENITENTIARIES PER 100,000 POPULATION BY NATIVITY,
QUINQUENNIAL AGE GROUPS, 1921.
SEX AND
All
ages
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60 and
over
Both Sexes —
Total
26
19
27
75
50
38
49
-127
1
1
1
3
33
30
43
51
65
59
84
98
0
0
83
71
70
163
166
143
146
306
2
2
0
0
64
52
37
135
124
104
75
231
3
3
0
6
46
39
25
93
85
76
44
151
3
2
3
4
37
32
' 18
76
65
61
32
115
3
3
0
10
36
27
32
78
66
52
57
123
1
0
0
22
17
22
44
40
32
40
70
1
1
0
0
20
14
21
51
36
26
34
82
1
1
3
0
19
16
20
35
36
32-
35
57
0
0
0
0
8
7
7
15
Males —
Total
15
13
14
2S
Females-
Total
0
0
0
0
Note. — Where (— ) is inserted rate is less than 0-5 per 100,000.
Table 118 shows the number and rate per 100,000 in penitentiaries of the foreign born
male population aged 21 years and over in Canada, by specified countries' of birth. The
table deals only with the immigrants and with the male portion of them. Direct comparison
between the rates is consequently not vitiated by differences in sex distribution, though
some unfairness is involved to those countries from which immigration has been more
recent, since age distribution among such immigrants would be somewhat more favourable
to crime than that for the groups which had come in large numbers earlier in the century.
Reference therefore should be made to Table 28 in Chapter II for the purpose of making
allowance for differences as to length of residence and consequent variation in age distribu-
tion of the male population from the various foreign countries.
Further, the numbers of males for many countries of birth are so small that the rates
are not reliable. However, when one selects the five European countries from which the
BIRTHPLACE OF PENITENTIARY POPULATION
191
TABLE 118.— NUMBER AND RATE PER 100,000 OF FOREIGN BORN MALE PENITENTIARY POPULATION
AGED 21 YEARS AND OVER IN CANADA, BY COUNTRY OF BIRTH, 1921.
Birthplace
Number
of males
in peni-
tentiaries
21 years
t and over
Rate per
100,000
males
21 years
and over
in each
nativity
group
598
352
83
6
9
1
6
7
7
5
6
8
3
4
0
72
0
4
26
24
69
6
4
2
23
19
3
0
1
213
10
142
77
27
46
273
107
111
0
Italy
337
0
29
Poland
182
209
36
199
32
53
57
39
0
Turkey
377
United States
159
703
largest numbers of male immigrants have come in recent years, the adult male population
in Canada born in each of those countries was over 24,000 — a number sufficiently large for
the purpose of the present analysis. When arranged according to the rate per 100,000 of
such adult males in penitentiaries the countries appear in the following order: —
Length of
residence
Rate in
Per cnet
of those
Country of Birth
penitentiaries
arrived
arrived
per 100,000
before
since Jan. 1,
(adult males)
1901
. 1901
(in years)
Italy
337
273
, 209
182
144
8-63
1711
1316
10-48
17-50
9-5
11-9
12-0
Poland
10-3
10-9
The rate for all foreign countries was 142. Italy shows a rate between two and three
times greater. That is offset to some extent by the recent date of arrival in Canada, which
causes the age distribution of the foreign born males from that country to be somewhat
more favourable to crime than that for males from certain other countries. It is inconceiv-
able, however, that such an excessively high rate can be more than partially explained on
that score. One is forced to assume the existence of an original tendency toward crime
which is associated in part with the correlative tendency to concentrate in cities, especially
in large ones. The Austrian rate of 273 per 100,000 is also exceedingly high, and it is not
192 RELATION OF ORIGINS AND NATIVITY TO CRIME
due to an age distribution especially favourable to crime, for immigration from Austria had
assumed comparatively large dimensions quite early in the century. The same remark
applies to the Roumanians and to a lesser degree to the Poles and Russians.
It 'is exceedingly significant that these five countries which send such large numbers of
criminals to' Canada, are all situated in the central, east and southern parts of Europe and
that, with the exception of the Ukraine, they constitute the main sources of our immigrant
population from that geographical division. In fact in 1921 the five countries mentioned
were among the first seven foreign countries in respect of the number of emigrants sent to
Canada. Further, that situation has not obtained merely during the latter years of the last
decade. It has been typical of immigration during the whole of this century. Between 1900
and 1914 Russia and Austria each sent to Canada more emigrants than any other contin-
ental European country. At no time since 1900 has Italy stood lower than fifth place, and
in the past ten years she has ranked either first, second or third among continental Euro-
pean countries in the number of emigrants sent to Canada. The simple fact of the matter
appears to be that immigration since the beginning of the century has brought to Canada
the least desirable of foreign peoples in the largest numbers, i.e., the least desirable in
respect of their crime records. Their records in learning the official languages of Canada,
illiteracy, intermarriage and infant mortality are dealt with in other chapters.
The countries of birth have been grouped in a summary table (Table 119), where the
number in penitentiaries and rates per 100,000 are presented in parallel columns. A few of
the significant fact's are brought out by comparing Tables 118 and 119. First, there were
twice as many male immigrants from Austria in our penitentiaries in 1921 as from the whole
of North Western Europe. Secondly, the number of males from Italy in Canadian peni-
tentiaries was 70 p.c. greater than the number born in all countries in North Western
Europe combined; and thirdly, more Russians by two-thirds were serving heavy sentences
in Canadian penal institutions at the date of the census than immigrants from all Germanic
and Scandinavian countries together. These facts challenge most emphatic comment.
Further, Table 119 shows that over seven times as many immigrants from South, Eastern
and Central Europe were serving sentences for major offences in Canada as from North
Western Europe. In fact 88 p.c. of the European born males in our penitentiaries came
from the South, Eastern and Central parts of the continent. The rate per 100,000 males
from South, Eastern and Central Europe was over three times greater than that for those
from the northwestern section.
Passing to the immigrants from the United States, it is surprising to find that the
proportion of males born in that country in Canadian penitentiaries was almost as large
as the rate for the South, Eastern and Central European groups. The actual number
of United iStates born male convicts per 100,000 male immigrants over 21 years of age
was 159, as against 185 for 'South, Eastern and Central Europe and 53 for Asiatic immi-
grants. It will be shown below that the high rate for the United States born is not
attributed to the bona fide settler. The close proximity of the United States and the
ease of crossing the international boundary makes Canada peculiarly subject to visits of
the professional criminals from that country.
Turning to the linguistic groups, the Latin and Greek countries take the lead with
nearly 300 per 100,000 males in penitentiaries, a proportion seven times greater than that
for the Scandinavian immigrants and well over four times that for those from Germanic
countries. The penitentiary population of males born in Slavic countries is 161 out of
every 100,000 male immigrants, which is four times as Large a proportion as among those
coming from Scandinavian countries.
Such facts cannot but claim the attention of those interested in the observance of law
and order, and in the building of a Canadian nation imbued with ideals of right conduct.
As was intimated above, their importance is further emphasized by the discussion in a
previous section showing that those countries which send the largest proportion of
criminals to Canada have dominated foreign immigration since the beginning of the century.
CITIZENSHIP OF PENITENTIARY POPULATION
193-
TABLE 119— NUMBER OF FOREIGN BORN MALES IN PENITENTIARIES PER 100,000 MALE POPULATION
AGED 21 YEARS AND OVER, OF SPECIFIED GROUPS OF COUNTRIES OF BIRTH, 1921.
Birthplace
Number
of males in
penitentiaries
(21 years and
over)
Rate per
100,000
males
(21 years
and over)
598
352
42
310
23
213
16
15
104
195
142
146
59
185
159
42
68
290
161
t1) France not included.
TABLE 120— CITIZENSHIP OF FOREIGN-BORN PENITENTIARY POPULATION (BOTH SEXES)
AGED 21 YEARS AND OVER, 1921.
Birthplace
Number in
Penitentiaries
Total
Natural-
ized
Alien
Rate per 100,000 population
of each group
Total
Natural-
ized
Alien
All Foreign Countries
Europe
Austria
Belgium..
Bulgaria
Czechoslovakia. .
Denmark
Finland
France
Galicia
Germany
Greece
Holland
Hungary
Iceland
Italy
Jugo-Slavia
Norway
Poland
Roumania
Russia
Sweden
Switzerland
Ukraine
Asia
China
Japan
Syria
Turkey
United States
Other Countries
355
84
3
4
0
73
0
4
26.
24
70
6
4
2
23
19
3
0
1
219
11
82
35
16
0
1
0
0
0
1
0
1
1
1
0
0
4
0
0
3
2
4
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
46
526
320
68
1
6
7
6
5
5
7
2
4
0
69
0
4
23
22
66
5
4
2
23
19
3
0
1
173
10
87
90
167
58
969
27
92
65
42
16
26
230
65
62
0
240
0
19
108
124
84
24
129
20
47
56
28
0
278
87
473
20
15
53
0
541
0
0
0
11
0
6
96
43
0
0
43
0
0
25
17
8
6
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
28
81
179
197
341
107
1,075
62
219
121
83
48-
■ 68 '
.287.
89"
. 243 :
0.
'327--
0
•"'68'
194 ■
291
214
63
292
45
55
58
43
0
513
193
921
Citizenship of the Penitentiary Population. — Table 120 shows the numbers alien and
naturalized of the penitentiary population of both sexes 21 years and over by countries
of birth, and the rate per 100,000 of each group. Little comment is necessary. The one
fact brought out in the table is presented in the first row of figures. Of the 608 foreign
born inmates of Canadian penitentiaries in 1921, 526 (that is 80.5 p.c.) were aliens. The
second section of the table expresses the same fact in another way. The proportion in
penitentiaries of the alien foreign (born was 179 per 100,000, while that for the naturalized
foreign born was only 20 per. 100,000. The alien rate was eight times greater than that for
the naturalized. Further, in the case of every country of birth, the rate per 100,000 immi-
74422—13
194 RELATION OF ORIGINS AND NATIVITY TO CRIME
grants was several times greater for aliens than for those who had taken out Canadian
citizenship. Taking a few examples where the numbers are large and the rates consequently
more or less reliable, for the Austrians the rate was 13 times greater for the aliens than
for the naturalized, for the Italians and Poles nearly eight times, for the Roumanians 17
times and for the Russians 27 times.
It is apparent, therefore, that the alien foreign born immigrants constitute our major
problem in respect to serious criminal offences in Canada and also that a policy of deporting
the great majority of foreign born criminals after they have served the terms of punishment
required by law would not encounter any impediment through their having taken out
naturalization papers.
Origin of the Penitentiary Population. — In Table 121 the penitentiary population, 21
years of age and over, is shown by origins. In Column 3 are given the rates per 100,000
of the total population 21 years of age and over of the corresponding origins. We have
seen the marked differences between the proportions in penitentiaries of immigrants born in
different countries. It will now be shown that criminal tendencies vary not only with
birthplace but also with origin. The rates as given in Table 121, however, do not reflect
merely differences of origin. Birthplace, age and sex distribution and length of residence
also influence the percentages; but before attempting to isolate the factor of origin, it is
of interest to see in what sections of the population major offences were most common
in 1921, for there the practical problem of law enforcement is most serious.
The first point to note is the marked variation in the proportions of the different stocks
in penitentiaries. The Ukrainians had the lowest with only five per 100,000 twenty-one years
and over; the Bulgarians the highest with 512, and the Negroes came next with 415. The
British and French stocks stood on a par, with rates of 33 and 35 respectively. Ten stocks
showed proportions lower than the British and French, namely, the Czechs, Dutch, Germans,
Icelanders, Norwegians, Swedes, Swiss, Syrians, Japanese and Ukrainians.
The rates for all others were higher, and in some cases very much higher. Mention
has been made of the Negroes. With them, age and sex distribution are not more favour-
able to crime than with the British, and much less favourable than for any immigrant
peoples. Further, neither length of residence nor place of birth would account for the
high figure for that stock. There seems to be no question that they are more given to
serious crimes than any other people in Canada. Their rate of 415 per 100,000 was 12i
times greater than that for the British stocks, and there do not appear to be any important
mitigating circumstances. The rates for the Roumanian (341), Italian (239), Greek (219),
Austrian (196), Serbo-Croatian (188) and Russian (141) stocks were also very high. They
range from four to ten times that for the British stocks, and the Poles with 121 per 100,000
in penitentiaries might also be classed with the six stocks mentioned above as having
exceedingly high proportions serving long term sentences.
In two of the above mentioned cases, namely, the Greek and Serbo-Croatian stocks,
the numbers 21 years of age and over are so small that no great reliance should be placed
on the actual magnitude of the rates. In all other cases, however, the number 21 years
of age and over is greater than 10,000, and in most instances it is many times that number,
so that the samples are more representative.
Special comment should be made regarding the Ukrainian stock. Though they are
our most illiterate and backward immigrants, they appear to be particularly free from crime
of a serious nature. In this connection, it is recalled that out of a population of some
25,000 between the ages of 10 and 20 years, not one was found in a reformatory in Canada
in 1921. The record of that stock is most commendable on the score of its respect for law,
as revealed by reformatory and penitentiary statistics. Their low rate is probably associated
to some extent with another characteristic to which reference has been made, namely, rural
residence and agricultural occupation.
ORIGIN OF PENITENTIARY POPULATION
195
TABLE 121.-0RIGIN OF PENITENTIARY POPULATION, 21 YEARS AND OVER (BOTH SEXES),
1921.
Origin
Canada. .
British
English.
Irish
Scotch..
Other...
French
Austrian...
Belgian
Bulgarian.
Chinese....
Czech
Danish
Dutch .
Finnish
German
Greek
Hebrew
Hungarian
Icelandic :
Indian
Italian
Japanese
Negro
Norwegian
Polish
Roumanian
Russian
Ser bo-Croatian
Swedish
Swiss
Syrian ".
Ukrainian
Various and unspecified.
(1)
(2)
Total number
Total
in
population
penitentiaries
(21 years
(21 years and
and over)
over)
1,801
4,811,9031
059
2,896,076
536
1,497,337
247
667,441
165
706,516
11
24,782
405
1,168,387
91
46,403
6
11,041
7
1,367
19
34,183
1
4,224
7
11,545
12
63,141
7
11,364
27
155,218
8
3,659
30
60, 695
3
5,592
2 .
8,757
26
51,088
80
33,480
3
10, 742
44
10,613
7
36,479
29
24,021
22
6,449
62
43,955
4
2,126
7
34,579
1
7,509
1
3,788
2
43,187
19
22, 235
(3)
Number per
100,000 of
corresponding
group
33
36
37
23
44
35
196
54
512
56
24
61
19
62
17
219
49
£4
23
51
239
28
415
19
121
341
141
188
20
13
26
5
1 Does not include Yukon and Northwest Territories. Includes persons of unstated age.
When the European stocks are arranged by geographical and linguistic groups as in
Table 122, the numbers are more representative and the rates more reliable. The North
Western European group of foreign stocks had 21 per 100,000 21 years of age and over in
penitentiaries in 1921, while the South, Eastern and Central group showed a figure of 138
a proportion nearly seven times greater than that for the North Western Europeans. The
Latin and Greek stocks had a proportion some ten to twelve times greater than that for
the Scandinavian and Germanic peoples, and the Slavic stocks a proportion four to six times
greater. Were it not for the Ukrainians, who form a very considerable proportion of the
Slavic population in Canada, the rate for the latter group would have been higher than
actually appears.
So much for the crude data and their practical bearing on the problem of law enforce-
ment in the various ' origin ' groups in Canada.
Now these difference.? are by no means entirely due to birthplace or age and sex
distribution. It becomes apparent that a genuine factor of origin and heredity is involved
when one compares the groups in the light of previous sections of this study. The Slavic
stocks, for instance, showed a considerably smaller proportion 21 years of age and over
than the Scandinavians, as well as a much smaller surplus of males. Yet in spite of an
age and sex distribution less favourable to crime than that of the Scandinavian peoples,
the rate in penitentiaries for the Slavic group was four and a half times greater. The fact
that the proportion born on this continent was some 7 p.c. smaller for the Slavs than for
the Scandinavians offsets in some measure the difference on the score of age and sex
distribution, but is certainly not adequate to account for the striking spread in the propor-
tions in penitentiaries. It would seem that the difference is mainly due to origin and
heredity. The figure for the Latin and Greek group may be unduly high because of eome-
74422— 13j
196
RELATION OF ORIGINS AND NATIVITY TO CRIME
what more recent data of arrival and a slightly larger surplus of males. Yet even if their
rate in penitentiaries be discounted <by half, it would be far in excess of that for any
other group.
TABLE 122— ORIGIN OF PENITENTIARY POPULATION (BOTH SEXES), 21 YEARS AND OVER,
BY SPECIFIED GROUPS OF ORIGINS. 1921.
Groups of Origins
Total
number in
penitentiaries,
(21 years
and over)
Total
population
(21 years
and over)
Rate
per 100,000
09
309
23
45
110
188
328,269
224.400
91.360
229,400
43,588
103,916
21
138
25
20
252
115
But let us push the analysis a step farther and actually eliminate some of the disturbing
factors. Table 123 shows the rate per 100,000 of both sexes in penitentiaries for specified
groups of origins and broad nativity classes. In the lower section separate data for males
are presented for the United States and other immigrant born.
If the rates for the Canadian born sections of the different groups be compared, it
will be seen that differences of origin by no means vanish. When we examine the Canadian
born alone the disturbing influence of sex distribution is eliminated as well as differences in.
respect to birthplace. The influence of origin is thus relieved of two important disturbing
factors. The only other significant independent influence is age.
It is admitted of course that rural and urban distribution is also related to crime, as is
occupation; but occupation and rural and urban distribution are essentially characteristic
of origins, as has been .pointed out in a previous chapter. The Italians, for instance, live in
cities and follow urban occupations because urban residence is an outstanding characteristic
of that group on this continent. At the same time the Italians show very large proportions
in penitentiaries. If they were of another stock like the Ukrainians, for example, they
would live in the country, work at agriculture and hold a different attitude towards the
law. It is not denied that urban residence accentuates the proportion of crime; indeed
it is one of the several characteristics of certain origins which favours it. In this section,
however, attention is focussed on the sum total of the traits of different stocks as they
affect the frequency of serious offences against society.
As distinct from rural and urban distribution, the age. factor is a circumstance much
more independent of origin, and allowance should be made for any marked differences in
age distribution, when comparing two or more ' origin ' groups. The question thus arises,
once sex and birthplace are eliminated, to what extent differences in age distribution
make comparisons invalid between the Canadian born sections of the various groups of
peoples. The answer is not hard to find. If one refers to Ta'ble No. 42, Vol. II of the
1921 Census, it will be seen that age distribution, instead of invalidating the comparison,
actually accentuates the differences to which reference has already been made. The propor-
tions 21 years and over in the Canadian born sections of the British, French, Scandinavian
and Germanic stocks were from -2 to 8 times greater than in the case of the Latin antd Greek
and Slavic peoples of Canadian birth. Even assuming larger proportions of these 21 and
over in the latter groups to be young adults, the age distribution of the Canadian born of
the former stocks was unquestionably more favourable to a high crime rate. Yet the Latin
and Greek people of Canadian birth showed from six to sixteen times the number in
penitentiaries • per 100,000 shown by the Canadian born of the earlier stocks, and the
Canadian born Slavs had a proportion from one half to four times greater. Similar differ-
ences appear between the geographical groups. The rate for the Canadian born South,
ORIGIN AND NATIVITY OF PENITENTIARY POPULATION
197
Eastern and Central Europeans was approximately six times that for the North Western
Europeans of Canadian birth, in spite of the fact that the South, Eastern and Central
Europeans had an age distribution less favourable to crime.
But it may be objected that the numbers of the Canadian born Slavs and Latins and,
Greeks are too small to warrant placing much faith in comparisons of that nature. If,
however, one examines "the other immigrant born" section of the table, it will be seen,
first, that the numbers of foreign born males 21 years of age and over of Latin and Greek
and Slavic extraction are quite large; and secondly, that the rates for the foreign bom
males of both those groups are much higher than for the foreign born males of the French,
Scandinavian and Germanic groups. Further, the rate for the foreign born males of
South, Eastern and Central European extraction is several times greater than for those from
the North West of Europe. It is true that the age distribution of adult male immigrants
from South, Eastern and. Central Europe was probably slightly more favourable to crime,
but this difference is certainly not adequate to account for the rate being five times greater.
In the face of such facts, it seems hardly possible to doubt that origin and heredity is
an important factor, if not the most important, in the matter of penitentiary commitments;
and even though one may differ with the suggestion made above that where major offences
are frequent the law is commonly violated in less serious ways, it is difficult to see how
one can gainsay the conclusion that in so far as penitentiary population is an index of
criminality, the Scandinavian and Germanic stocks and the North Western European peoples
in general, have a much better record than the Slavic and Latin and Greek peoples.
There is one other point worthy of emphasis, and it is clearly brought out in the
section of the table dealing with the United States born portion of the " origin " groups.
It is first recalled that some 95 p.c. of the immigrants from the United States are of
British, French, Scandinavian or Germanic stocks. The number of Latin and Greek and
Slavic immigrants from that country is almost negligible. Now, while the French, Scandi-
navian and Germanic people who come to Canada from the United States show only slightly
larger percentages and in some cases even smaller proportions in penitentiaries than the
Canadian born of these stocks, the immigrants of British stock from the country to the
South are among our most serious offenders. The bulk of the criminals coming to Canada
from the United States are of British origin.
TABLE 123— ORIGIN AND NATIVITY OF PENITENTIARY POPULATION, 21 YEARS AND OVER,
BY SPECIFIED GROUPS (BOTH SEXES), 1921.
Canadian Bo
rn
United States Born
Other Immigrant Born
Groups and Origins
Popu-
lation
21 years
and over
Number
in
peniten-
tiaries
Rate per
100,000
of each
group
Popu-
lation
21 years
and over
Number
in
peniten-
tiaries
Rate per
100,000
of each
group
Popu-
lation
21 years
and over
Number
in
peniten-
tiaries
Rate per
100,000
of each
group
Both Sexes-
1,874,200
1,117,316
7.928
138.814
2,297
10.110
150,193
12,983
(')
(')
(')
(')
(')
(')
(')
(')
581
382
2
18
5
5
20
10
31
34
25
13
218
49
13
77
146.216
31,930
24,259
34,723
658
4,352
60, 153
5,623
77,896
15,648
13,685
19,194
373
2,373
33,528
3,082
157
14
4
11
2
4
15
6
151
14
4
11
2
4
15
6
107
44
16
32
304
92
25
107
194
89
29
57
536
168
45
195
874,660
16.972
58.610
54,776
40,224
146.926
116.188
202,893
221
9
16
15
103
175
32
288
25
' 53
27
Latin and Greek
256
North Western
EuropeP)
28
142
South, Eastern and
Central Europe....
Males —
British Stocks
7,6is
37,966
31.367
28,490
89, 989
71,078
127,994
9
16
15
102
173
32
285
118
42
48
358
Slavic
192
North Western
4]
South, Eastern and
223
(') Data not available.
(2) Does not include British and French.
198
RELATION OF ORIGINS AND NATIVITY TO CRIME
Parentage of the Canadian born in the Penitentiary Population. — In the discussion on
the reformatory population, reference was made to the importance of parentage and in
particular to the theory that it is the children of foreign born parents who constitute our
major problem in respect to disregard for law. Table 124 classifies the penitentiary
population by specified parentage groups, and an examination of the rates in the third
column yields some interesting information.
First, the Canadian born children of British born parents show the lowest proportion
in penitentiaries. . It is recalled in this connection that the Canadian born children of
British born parents showed the highest proportion in reformatories; yet the data for
penitentiaries show the very reverse. How can this paradox be explained? It was
suggested that the absence of British born fathers from Canada during the war was a
major factor in accounting for the large numbers of Canadian born children of British
born parents in reformatories in 19211. The younger generation of children of such parents
appear to be exceedingly badly behaved; yet as far as penitentiary population may be
taken as an index the older children of British bom parents have been unusually
free from crime. Confirmation is thus given to the contention that the situation in respect
to the Canadian born reformatory population of British parentage was most abnormal, and
whether the explanation suggested is either correct or adequate, there is no doubt that
the phenomenon was a temporary one and not likely to be repeated.
When one parent is Canadian and one British born the proportion in penitentiaries
was only slightly higher than where both parents were British bom. In both these cases
the chances of a child being found in a penitentiary were only half as great as where both
parents were Canadian born. That is not surprising, however, for there is a large admixture
of foreign stocks in Canada which show much greater criminal tendencies than do the basic
British and French stocks, and the children of Canadian born parents include among their
number many of such foreign origins.
The chances of going to the penitentiary are greatest for the children of foreign born
parents. Here again it ds recalled 'that such children were found in reformatories in very
small numbers -in 1921. The abnormal conditions incident on the war were suggested as
a possible cause. Yet the penitentiary data seem again to be in closer record with the
expected result. Disregard for law is hereditary — not so much in a biological, as in a
social sense. WheTe the parents are criminal, the children learn disrespect for the law
from the home environment, and with the foreign born adults showing larger proportions in
penitentiaries than the Canadian born, the normal expectation is that the children of the
foreign born as a group would include larger proportions among whom crime is more
prevalent. The origin of the children of such parents also favours criminality.
TABLE 124.— CANADIAN BORN POPULATION OF PENITENTIARIES, BY NATIVITY OF
PARENTS, 1921.
Parentage
Canada
Penitentiaries
Rate
per
100,000
Canadian Bom Population, 21 years and over.
Both parents —
Canadian born .■
British born
Foreigriborn (including U.S. born)
Mixed parentage —
Father Canadian, mother Foreign
Father Foreign, mother Canadian
One parent Canadian, one British
One parent British, one Foreign
Parentage not stated
3,230,531
2,395,278
385,963
66.058
25.227
37, 790
284,979
21,557
22,679
1,051
867
70'
29
7
14
55
7
32
36
18
44
28
37
19
32
DATE OF IMMIGRATION OF IMMIGRANTS IN PENITENTIARIES 199
Date of Immigration oj Immigrant Penitentiary Population. — Before concluding
this chapter there is a further question which is of general interest. How soon after
their arrival in this country do the immigrant offenders get into trouble? The answer
is suggested in Table 125, which distributes the total male immigrant penitentiary
population by date of arrival in Canada, and also gives separate figures for countries
of birth showing the greatest numbers in penitentiaries. The proportion of all immigrants
in penitentiaries is greatest for the group which came between 1915 and 19118. The same
applies to the European males and to each of the European countries from which large
numbers of our criminals have come. The rate was smaller for those who arrived after
1918, and it decreased with length of residence prior to 1915. What then is the inference?
One is first reminded that the census of penitentiaries in 1921 does not give the date of
admission but rather records the actual number in penitentiaries at that time. If we
assume that on the average the foreign born inmates of penitentiaries had already served
one and a half years of their sentences at the date of the Census, and further that those who
were reported as coming between 1915 and 1918, had, on the average, been in the country
four, and a half years prior to 1921, it would appear that the most common length of
residence prior to committing an offence sufficiently serious to merit a penitentiary sentence,
was about three years.
The reason for this is a matter of conjecture, but the suggestion is offered that the new
arrivals, finding themselves in a strange country with a strange language and strange ways,
require two or three years to adjust themselves to the new environment before falling
into the error of mistaking liberty for license. That- this seems reasonable is confirmed
by the figure for the United1 States immigrants, which differs from that of all other foreign
countries. The largest proportion of immigrants from that country commit offences almost
immediately on arriving here. The majority of them are of British stock, and have been
reared on this continent under conditions very similar to those existing in Canada. A period
of adjustment is consequently not necessary. They are not strangers in a foreign country,
like the European and especially the Asiatic immigrants, and if they have criminal tendencies
they are not deterred from giving expression to them on account of unfamiliarity with the
language and ways of the country.
It also seems probable that more criminals oome from the United States for the express
purpose of committing crime than from other foreign countries; Canada appears to be
somewhat off the beat of the international criminal from other foreign .parts.
TABLE 125— DISTRIBUTION OF THE IMMIGRANT MALE POPULATION OF PENITENTIARIES, BY
BIRTHPLACE AND YEAR OF ARRIVAL, CENSUS OF 1921.
Immigrant male population in Canada
by date of arrival
Rate per 100,000 immigrant male population
in penitentiaries by date of arrival
Birthplace
Jan.
1919 to
June
1921
1915-
18
1911-
14
1901-
10
Before
1901
Totals
Jan.
1919 to
June
1921
1915-
18
1911-
14
1901-
10
Before
1901
Totals
Total
103,089
59,563
43,526
15,154
438
4,065
1,171
346
1,694
3,210
24,957
58,595
17,400
41,195
8,799
355
1,104
.360
207
1,497
5,204
27,041
283,682
145,598
138,084
83,452
10,599
7,842
6,289
4,376
19,839
11,981
42,187
438,631
225,900
212,731
121,068
16.888
8,741
7,059
6,589
23,781
18,422
72,622
187,942
110,845
77,097
42,620
5,457
2,161
1,683
1,644
9,629
7,970
26,241
1,086,542
567,072
519,470
273,892
34,034
24,219
16,864
13,228
56,967
47,211
196,427
89
24
179
92
1,142
49
0
289
118
0
256
171
115
194
409
1,408
815
56
483
667
19
155
96
37
158
210
330
370
239
388
193
60
83
79
54
105
117
225
400
156
121
80
65
94
60
54
69
45
92
46
59
61
42
38
114
87
49
127
142
259
314
Italy
Poland
172
219
United States born .
51
124
200
RELATION OF ORIGINS AND NATIVITY TO CRIME-
-.-• ,, • MATHEMATICAL APPENDIX TO CHAPTER X
Table.' A below' shows the number' of convictions for indictable offences in Canada in
1924, by sex and specified' age groups and the rate per 100,000 population for each group.
TABLE A.-CONVICTIONS FOR INDICTABLE OFFENCES IN CANADA, BY AGE AND SEX.
. Age Group.
Sex
■ Con-
. victions
in 1924
■ Popu-
lation of
Canada,
1921
Con-
■ victions
per
100,000 '
' population
16-20 •
M.
F.
■ M. "
. F.
F.
,M.
F.
2,831
272
6,577
1,054
' 2,167
368
: 2,857.
132
393,406
' 390,945
1,311,783
.1,224,667
1,207,411
1,055,408
719
• 70
501
86
180
35
Not given
■..■■Table B' gives the mumfoer' of "males , and' females' respectively in corresponding age
groups, resident in. Canada in ; 1921 and '/born- (1<)> in Canada,. (2) in other parts of the
British Empire .and. (3) . in foreign countries: Table C . expresses the number of males in
each' age and nativity group as a .percentage, of, .the .total male population of like nativity
in Canada, ,'andf Table D is" a similar schedule for females.' ','•.■•
TABLE B.— MALES AND FEMALES BY.SPECIFIED AGE AND NATIVITY GROUPS IN CANADA, 1921.
. •" . , ,' ...i r „,.'<( ; -.».- > :■' ' .•...,.'! ,1! -!M!|.'i- v i ■ . ,..«■
, ■ ' '; Age Group , .. ,
Sex
' Canadian
born
Other
British
born
Foreign ,
born
16-20....... ....;.:;.;,;..:.;.;.■..).... .>../.. .......... ,..;.. ;■.•. l'.V. ..'.'.. V. . V. i . .' . . .'
21-39
■ m:
F..
M.
■■ F. '
M.
■ F.
323,015
311,264.
. 824,584
834,572
798,018
758,393
40.440
40,419
239.795
218,708
234,311
189,701
39,804
38,082
244,401
170,424
175,082
107,314
,..• . .,; ... ;,., ...••.
M.
F.
3,432.864
3.379.968
566.778
498,209
518, 702
370,685
V .....
TABLE C— MALES IN EACH AGE AND NATIVITY GROUP AS PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL MALE
POPULATION OF CORRESPONDING NATIVITY IN CANADA, 1921.
1 ' i Age Group;
! ' : ' i . . ' ,
' Canadian
born
Other
British
born
Foreign
born
p.c. '
9-4
24-0
23-3
p.c.
7-1
42-3
1 41-4
p.c.
7-7
47-1
• 33.8
21-39 ' ■ , . ...••■•:••
TABLE D.- FEMALES IN EACH AGE AND NATIVITY GROUP AS PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL FEMALE
POPULATION OF CORRESPONDING NATIVITY IN CANADA, 1921. , -
| ' ' i Age Group j , ' '.
Canadian
born
Other
British
born
Foreign
born
16-20
p.c.
9-2
24-7
22-4
p.c.
8-1
43-9
38-0
p.c.
10-3
46-0
28-9
21-39 •
RATE OF CONVICTIONS OF CANADIAN BORN AND IMMIGRANTS 201
In Table A it is seen that 719 convictions occurred in 1924 per 100,000 males in Canada
between the ages of 16 and 20 inclusive. Table C shows that 9.4 p.c. of the Canadian born
males in 1921 were in that age group. Applying that rate to the Canadian born males 16-20,
it is apparent that 9.4 p.c. of 719 or 67.6 would be the number of males at those ages per
100,000 Canadian born males (all ages), who would be convicted of indictable offences.
Applying the rates 501 and 180 respectively in a similar manner to other age groups, it is
found there would be 120.2 convictions of Canadian born males between the ages of 21 and
39 inclusive and 41.9 for the group 40 and over. Adding the numbers so computed for the
three age classes a total of 229.7 is secured as the number per 100,000 Canadian born males
(all ages) who would be convicted of indictable offences on the basis of age distribution as it
actually existed in 1921, and on the assumption that crime at the various ages was neither
more nor less prevalent among Canadian born males than among the male population as a
whole in 1924 (the standard year), like computations were made for the other British and
Foreign born maJes and a summary appears in Table E. In Table F are presented similar
data for females of each nativity group.
TABLE E— NUMBER OF MALES PER 100.000 MALE POPULATION OF EACH NATIVITY WHO WOULD BE
CONVICTED OF INDICTABLE OFFENCES ON THE BASIS OF UNIFORM CRIME RATES FOR MALES
OF ALL NATIVITY GROUPS.
Age Group
Canadian
born
Other
British
born
Foreign
born
16-20
67-6
120-2
41-9
51-2
211-9
74-5
55-4
21-39
236-0
60-8
Total
229-7
337-6
352-2
TABLE F.— NUMBER OF FEMALES PER 100,000 FEMALE POPULATION OF EACH NATIVITY WHO WOULD
BE CONVICTED OF INDICTABLE OFFENCES ON THE BASIS OF UNIFORM CRIME RATES FOR
FEMALES OF ALL NATIVITY GROUPS.
Age Group
Canadian
born
Other
British
born
Foreign
born
16-20 :
6-4
21-2
7-8
5-7
37-8
13-3
7-2
21-39
39-6
9-9
Total
35-4
56-8
56-7
The totals in the last two tables give an index of the allowance that must be made
on the score of age distribution in comparing the different nativity groups in respect to
criminality, as indicated by convictions for indictable offences. Taking the rates for the
Canadian born as a basis, a simple calculation shows that the age distribution of the
" Other British " born males is 47 p.c, and of the foreign born males, 53 p.c. more favour-
able to crime than that of the Canadian born males; and the age distribution of the
" Other British " born . and foreign born females 60 p.c. more favourable than that for
the Canadian born females.
The next problem is to determine the importance of differences in sex distribution.
The numbers of males and females shown in Table A constitute the following proportions
of the population (both sexes) in respective nativity groups.
Nativity
Percentage
of total
population,
males
Percentage
of total
population,
females
50-4
53-2
58-3
49-6
46-8
41 -7
If rates for Canadian males and females as given in Tables E and F, be weighted by
the proportions of males and females in the total -Canadian born population, allowance
would thereby be made for the peculiar sex distribution of that nativity group, and the
resulting figure would measure the expected number of convictions per 100,000 of the
202
RELATION OF ORIGINS AND NATIVITY TO CRIME
Canadian born population corrected for both age and sex. When a similar procedure is
followed with the data for the " Other British " and Foreign born the following rates
are found: —
Number who would
be convicted per
100,000 population
(both sexes) under
Nativity
existing age and sex
distribution, on the
assumption of a
uniform crime rate
for all nativity
groups
133-3
206-1
229-0
The actual rates in the census year 1921 were as follows:
Nativity
Actual number
of convictions
per 100,000
population in 1921
156
236
408
Taking the Canadian rate as a base in each of the above cases and expressing the rates
for each of the other nativity groups as a proportion of the Canadian rate, we get the
following results: —
Nativity
Number who would
be convicted per
100,000 of each
nativity group
on the basis of a
uniform crime for
all, expressed as
percentages of the
rate for the Cana-
dian born
Actual rates
in 1921
expressed as
percentages of
the rate for
the Canadian
born
Ratio
of actual
convictions
to expected
convictions
100
155
172
100
151
262
100
98
It is apparent from the above percentages that sex and age distribution are adequate
to account for the entire difference in crime rate between the Canadian and "other
British " born. In the case of the foreign born, the expected number of convictions per
100,000 was 72 p.c. greater than that for the Canadian born population; the actual rate
was some 162 p.c. greater in 1921, leaving an excess of 90 convictions or 52 p.c. to be
accounted for on grounds other than age and ssx.
The figure of 90 convictions or 52 p.c. probably understates the difference for two
reasons. In the first place, for 2,625 or 13.5 p.c. of the convictions birthplace was not given.
There are reasons to believe that more than a proportionate number of these were of foreign
birth. If so, had the " not givens " been distributed, the rate for the foreign born would
have been relatively higher than appears in the table. Further, the analysis has proceeded
on the assumption that the age distributions of the foreign and Canadian born within the
broad age group 21-39 were similar. Now Table 6, Volume II, of the Census 1921 shows '
that this is not the case. Of the Canadian born males between 20 and 29, the largest
number were in .the age group 20-24 and the second largest in the group 25-29. Thus
relatively larger proportions of the Canadian born males were in the twenties. With
the foreign • born, on the other hand, the largest number's were between 35 and 39 years
of age and the next largest quinquennial group was 30-34— that is, relatively larger propor-
tions were in the 30's. The 20^3 are the years most favourable to crime, as is shown above
by penitentiary data. Thus the age distribution of the foreign born between 20 and 40
was less favourable to crime than that of the Canadian born in the same broad age group.
In view of these facts it is obvious that the results minimize the difference between
criminality among the foreign born and the Canadian born. That such is the case is
confirmed in the preceding discussion of penitentiary population by age and nativity. The
foreign born males in penitentiaries' show more than twice the rate for the Canadian
born age for age.
CHAPTER XI
OCCUPATIONAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE POPULATION
OCCUPATIONS OP THE POPULATION BY SEX AND BIRTHPLACE
The census tabulates the employed males and females by occupation and nativity, and
Table 126 shows the numbers and percentages classified as of Canadian, British, United
States, European and Asiatic birth in certain principal occupations of Canada. Table 127
shows the percentages of the males separately, and Table 128 those of the females.
In 1921, there were well over five times as many employed males as females in Canada.
The number of Canadian born females 'employed in gainful occupations outside the home
was a little larger than one-fifth the number of men, while the number of United States
and European born women in business formed a very much smaller proportion of the
total occupied men employed .in the same nativity groups. The reason for the difference
is threefold: first, there is a much larger proportion of men in the United States and
European 'born population in Canada than in the Canadian born; secondly, a larger. percent-
age of the European born women marry; and thirdly, the largest proportion of our
agricultural settlers come from Europe and the United States, and a great many of these
women work at home on the farm, while if the family lived in the city, many would take
employment outside the home and appear in the census return as employed women. As it
is, they are not listed as " occupied " in the census. '
The number of British born females employed is also small as compared with the
number of British born males, but while the proportion is smaller than that for the
Canadian born it is not so small relatively as that of the United States or European
bom employed women. Inequality of the sexes and a higher marriage rate account for
the proportion being smaller than in the case of the Canadian born. The percentage of
British born women married, however, though greater than that of the Canadian born,
was smaller than the proportion among those of European birth. When one couples with
this circumstance the fact that British immigration has shown a very small proportion
settling on the land, it is only to be expected that the ratio of gainfully occupied British
women, when compared with the male immigrants from Britain, should be greater than
obtains in the case of the European and United States born.
203
TABLE 126.
-NUMBERS AND PERCENTAGES OF EMPLOYED MALES AND FEMALES OF SPECIFIED NATIVITY GROUPS IN PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS
IN CANADA, 1921.
Occupations
CANADA No.
Agriculture No.
P.c.
Logging, Fishing and Trap-
ping No.
P.c.
Mining and Quarrying No.
P.c.
Manufactures No.
P.c.
(1) Animal Products No.
P.c.
(2) Iron and Steel No.
P.c.
(3)Textiles .No.
P.c.
(4) Vegetable Products. . No.
P.c.
(5) Wood and Paper No.
P.c.
Construction No.
P.c.
Transportation No.
P.c.
Trade No.
P.c.
(1) Retail Merchants No.
P.c.
(2) Salesmen and women. No.
P.c.
Finance No.
P.c.
Service No.
P.c.
(1) Custom Repair No.
P.c.
(2) Domestic and PersonalNo
P.c.
(3) Professional No.
P.c.
Aggregate
Total
3,173,169
1,041,618
32-82
69, 107
218
51,063
1-61
520,275
16-37
40,096
1-26
110,575
' 3-48
96,261
303
47,486
1-50
128,836
406
185,202
5-84
247,410
7-80
310,439
9-78
100,522
317
110,266
3-47
61,301
1-93
547,073
17-24
48,782
1-54
214,552
6-76
181,391
5-72
Male
2,683,019
1,023,706
38 16
69,049
2-57
50,860
1-90
414,943
15-47
32,864
1-22
106,648
3-97
38,841
1-45
35,818
1-33
118,853
4-43
184,577
6-88
226,277
8-43
248,548
9-26
94,285
3-51
74,792
2-79
46,180
1-72
299,351
1116
48,467
1-81
80,013
2-98
82,064
3-06
Female
490, 153
17,912
3-65
58
•01
203
•04
105,332
21-49
7,232
1-48
3,927
•8C
57.420
11-71
11,668
,2-38
9,983
204
626
-13
21,133
4-35
61,891
12-63
6,237
1-27
35,474
7-24
15,121
3-08
247,722
50-54
315
•06
134,539
27-45
99,327
20-26
Birthplaces
Canada
Male - Female
1,762,485
720,948
40-91
52,566
2-98
24,191
1-37
255,902
14-52
22,043
1-25
58,250
3-30
21,006
116
23,016
1-31
84,483
4-79
115,731
6-57
140,431
7-97
163,764
9-29
59,762
3-39
51,442
2-92
32,512
1-84
174,498
9-90
31,633
1-79
34,947
1-98
55,366
314
361,171
12,862
3-56
51
•02
162
■04
77,530
21-47
■ 5,1
1-63
2,872
. -80
42,782
11-85
8,644
2-39
7,178
1-99
467
■13
15,262
4-23
44,961
12-45
4,436
1-23
25,867
7- 16
11,695
3-23
183,195
50-72
186
•05
88,853
24-60
83,207
23 04
British Isles
Male Female
464,764
111,105
23-91
3,126
■67
10,807
2-33
94,870
20-41
6,263
1-35
32,655
7-03
7,408
1-59
8,399
1-81
16,804
3-62
45,676
9-83
50,875
10-95
46,326
9-97
12,965
2
15,438
3-32
10,105
217
70,859
15-25
9,635
2-07
16,534
3-56
17,012
3-66
85,258
1,862
2-18
25
•03
19,786
23-21
962
1-13
826
■97
9,832
11-53
2,036
2 ""
2,218
2-60
115
•13
4,434
5-20
11,729
13-76
966
113
6,852
8-04
2,340
2-74
41,455
48-62
97
•11
30,913
36-26
8,
10-20
Br. Possessions
Male Female
1,725
9-51
595
3-28
1,593
8-79
4,521
24-94
284
1-57
2,063
11-38
187
103
225
1-24
1,124
6-20
2,127
11-73
2,155
11
1,520
8-38
481
2-65
450
2-48
470
2-59
2,544
14-03
304
1-68
551
304
876
4-83
3,713
50
1-35
1
■03
2
•05
628
16-91
14
■38
27
•73
387
10-42
55
1-48
49
1-32
4
•10
176
4-74
432
11-63
61
1-64
323
13-54
108
2-91
2,167
58-36
1
•03
1,615
43-50
490
13-20
United States
Male Female
146,672
78, 180
53-30
2,858
1-95
2,239
1-53
15,947
10-87
1,062
•72
4,313
2-94
1,351
•92
1,230
•84
4,493
306
6,449
4-40
11,032
7-52
10,780
7-35
3,!
2-72
3,126
2- 13
2,042
1
13,388
9-13
2,745
1-87
3,378
2-30
4,203
2-87
21,663
1,078
4 ""
•04
3,192
14-73
188
•87
154
•71
1,687
7-79
404
1-86
285
1-32
30
■14
1,032
4-76
2,572
11-87
258
1-19
1,409
6-50
790
3-65
12,072
55-73
10
•05
6,578
30-37
4,874
22-50
Europe -
Male Female
245,974
106,771
43-41
6,254
2-54
10,720
4-36
35,593
14-47
2,114
•98
9,155
3-72
8,434
3-43
2,577
1-05
. 6,203
2-52
14,216
5-78
20,017
8-14
21,841
8-88
14,399
5-85
3,330
1-35
918
•37
19,583
7-96
3,938
1-60
7,043
2-86
4,278
1-74
17,476
2,021
11-56
5
•03
4,070
23-29
147
•84
46
•26
2,662
15-23
525
300
234
1-34
9
•05
220
1-26
2,026
11-59
445
2-55
1,048
6-00
175
1-00
8,345
47-75
18
•10
6,218
35-58
1,948
1115
Asia
Male Female
43,076
4,485
10-41
3,602
8-36
1,257
2-92
7,839
18-20
791
1-84
139
•32
425
•99
347
•81
5,652
13 12
206
•48
1,620
3-76
4,145
9-62
2,596
6-03
970
2-25
98
•23
18,085
41-98
185
-43
17,322
40-21
255
•59
600
19
317
14-67
23
3-83
46
7-67
4
•67
10
1-64
5
•83
143
23-83
59
9-83
54
9-00
7
1-17
323
53-83
3
•50
251
41-83
60
10-00
Other Countries
Male Female
1,918
492
25-65
48
2-50
53
2-76
271
14-13
10
•52
73
3-81
30
1-56
24
1-25
84
4
172
8-97
147
7
172
8-97
94
4-90
36
1
35
1-82
394
20-54
27
1-41
238
12-41
74
3-86
20
7-43
38
14 13
2
74
24
8-92
9
3-36
4
1-49
28
10-41
2
•74
12
4-46
6
2-23
165
61-34
41-26
50
18-59
o
*■-,
O
to
>—,
ca
CI
O
O
o
CI
-9
o
NATIVITY OF THE GAINFULLY EMPLOYED POPULATION
205
TABLE 127— PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF EMPLOYED MALES IN SPECIFIED OCCUPATIONS, BY
NATIVITY, 1921.
Occupations
Total
p.c.
males
Canada
British
Isles
British
posses-
sions
U.S.A.
Europe
Asia
Other
countries
P.c.
males
P.c.
males
P.c.
males
P.c.
males
P.c.
males
P.c.
males
P.c.
males
38-16
2-57
1-90
15-47
1-22
3-97
1-45
1-33
4-43
6-88
8-43
9-26
3-51
2-79
1-72
11-16
1-81
2-98
306
40-91
2-98
1-37
14-52
1-25
3-30
1-19
1-31
4-79
6-57
7-97
9-29
3-39
2-92
1-84
9-90
1-79
1-98
3 14
23-91
0-67
2-33
20-41
1-35
7-03
1-59
1-81
3-62
9-83
10-95
9-97
2-79
3-32
2-17
15-25
2-07
3-56
3-66
9-51
3-28
8-79
24-94
1-57
11-38
103
1-24
6-20
11-73
11-89
8-38
2-65
2-48
2-59
14-03
1-68
3-04
4-83
53-30
1-95
1-53
10-87
0-72
2-94
0-92
0-84
3 06
4-40
7-52
7-35
2-72
2-13
1-39
913
1-87
2-30
2-87
43-41
2-54
4-36
14-47
0-98
3-72
3-43
1-05
2-52
5-78
814
8-88
5-85
1-35
0-37
7-96
1-60
2-86
1-74
10-41
8-36
2-92
18-20
1-84
0-32
0-99
0-81
1312
0-48
3-76
9-62
603
2-25
0-23
41-98
0-43
40-21
0-59
25-65
2-50
2-76
14-13
0-52
3-81
1-56
8-97
7-66
8-97
4-90
1-88
1-82
20-54
1-41
12-41
3-86
Custom and repair
Domestic and personal
TABLE 128.-
-PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF EMPLOYED FEMALES IN SPECIFIED OCCUPATIONS
BY NATIVITY, 1921.
Occupations
Total
p.c.
females
Canada
British
■ Isles
British
Posses-
sions
U.S.A.
Europe
Asia
Other
Countries
P.c.
fomales
P.c.
females
P.c.
females
P.c.
females
P.c.
females
P.c.
females
P.c.
females
3-65
001
0-04
21-49
1-48
0-80
11-71
2-38
2-04
0-13
4-35
12-63
1-27
7-24
3-08
50-54
0-06
27-45
20-26
3-56
0-02
004
21-47
1-63
0-80
11-85
2-39
1-99
013
4-23
12-45
1-23
7-16
3-24
50-72
005
24-60
23-04
2-18
0-03
23-21
113
0-97
11-53
2-39
2-60
013
5-20
13-76
1-13
8-04
2-74
48-62
011
36-26
10-20
1-35
0-03
0-05
16-91
0-38
0-73
10-42
1-48
1-32
0-10
4-74
11-63
1-64
13-54
2-91
58-36
0-03
43-50
13-20
4-98
0-04
14-73
0-87
0-71
7-79
1-86
1-32
0-14
4-76
11-87
1-19
6-50
3-65
55-73
0-05
30-37
22-50
11-56
0-03
23-29
0-84
0-26
15-23
3-00
1-34
■ 0-05
1-26
11-59
2-55
6-00
100
47-75
0-10
35-58
11-15
3-17
0-33
14-67
3-83
7-67
0-67
1-64
0-83
23-83
9-83
9-00
117
53-83
0-50
41-83
10-00
7-43
14-13
8-92
3-36
Trade -
10-41
0-74
2-23
61-34
18-59
Table 129 (p. 209) shows the percentage distribution of the population of Canada 15
years of age and over, and of persons gainfully occupied by sex and broad nativity groups —
Canadian born, British born and foreign born. Unfortunately the age distribution is not
available for the United States, Asiatic and European born separately. Table 130 gives the
number and proportions of each nativity group employed, by sex. The percentages are in
terms of population 15 years of age and over. This age was chosen in spite of the fact
that the figures for the employed include all 10 years of age and over. Since the number
from 10 to 14 years of age employed constitutes less than one p.c. of the total employed,
the error involved is very small. Moreover, this procedure has a decided advantage. It is
recalled that the proportions of children among the Canadian born differs radically from
that among the British born and foreign born, and the inclusion of the 10-14 year group
in the denominator would produce an exaggerated picture of the differences. An examina-
tion of these two tables reveals some interesting facts regarding the employment of the
206 OCCUPATIONAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE POPULATION
British born and foreign born in general. While the British born males constituted 17.4 p.c.
of the male population fifteen years of age and over, British bora employed males formed
18 p.c. of the gainfully occupied male population in Canada; and while the foreign born
males formed only 15.6 p.c. of the male population fifteen years of age and over, employed
males of foreign birth represented 16.3 p.c. of the total occupied male population of the
country. Thus both the British and foreign born males constituted larger proportions of the
working population than would be expected from their numerical strength. The conclusion
is that the British born and foreign born males are more generally employed than are the
Canadian bom, as is shown clearly in Table 130. While the number of males of Canadian
birth engaged in gainful occupations represent only 87.5 p.c. of the total Canadian bom
males 15 years of age and over, the proportions of the British bom and foreign born were
92.3 and 93.3 p.c, respectively. Such high rates of employment are not unexpected, how-
ever, because of the unique age distribution of the new immigrants. Both the British born
and foreign born are abnormally concentrated between 20 and 40 years of age — the econ-
omically productive years.
The women of British birth take remunerative work somewhat more generally than the
Canadian born, but the foreign born women do so to a much smaller extent. The proportion
of Canadian born women gainfully employed was 18.2 p.c. as compared with the higher
figure of 19.5 p.c. for the British bom and the lower figure of 12.4 p.c. for the foreign bom.
Thus, while the British and foreign born males and the British born females are engaged
in the country's industries to a relatively greater extent than the Canadian born, the foreign
born females find employment outside the home to a much less marked degree. Were data
available for the daughters of the immigrant women the experience of the United States
warrants the opinion that a very different situation would be revealed. Of all groups of
women the daughters of foreign born parents show the largest percentage employed in the
United States.
Proportions Employed in Specified Occupations. — Turning now to a detailed examina-
tion of Table 127, attention is first directed to the occupational distribution of the male
population. Approximately 41 p.c. of the Canadian born employed males were engaged
in agriculture; 14.5 p.c. in manufactures; 10 p.c. in services of various kinds, and 9, 8 and
7 p.c. in trade, transportation and construction respectively. Those six groups of industries
■,hus accounted for about 90 p.c. of the male working population of Canadian birth in
Canada. A comparison of the distribution of the immigrants among the Canadian industries
with that of the Canadian born males is suggestive. The males from the British Isles show
24 p.c. employed in agriculture, compared with 41 p.c. for the Canadian born males. That
this should be so was anticipated in the section on rural and ufban distribution of immigrant
population. The British born showed a relatively high percentage living in urban districts.
While the males from the British Isles had a much smaller percentage in agriculture than
the Canadian born males, they showed about half again as large a proportion in all manu-
facturing industries and over twice as large a proportion in the iron and steel industry
The construction, transportation and service groups also claimed much larger proportions oi
the British immigrants, and this is also the case with mining and quarrying.
Immigrants from the British possessions show the least inclination to go into agriculture.
Of males from .portions of the British Empire other than the British Isles, less than 10 p.c.
were found on farms in 1921, that is, only one-fourth as large .a proportion as for the
Canadian toorn males. The main occupations attracting immigrants from the British posses-
sions are the manufacturing. Almost 25 p.c. of the males were employed in one or other
of such industries, and the percentage in the iron and steel industry was notably high.
Indeed the proportion of males from the British possessions employed in that industry was
higher than that of any other immigrant group, and three times as large as that for the
Canadian born. Abnormally high proportions are also employed in mining and quarrying,
and as in the case of those from the British Isles, disproportionate numbers are engaged in
construction, transportation and the various services.
Thus, speaking generally, the immigrant males of British birth avoid agriculture, but
concentrate in mining, manufacturing, building and transportation to a much greater extent
than do the Canadian born. Particularly do they concentrate in the iron and steel industry.
NATIVITY OF GAINFULLY EMPLOYED IN LEADING OCCUPATIONS 207
Unlike the British born immigrants, a large percentage of those from the United States
was found in agriculture. Over 50 p.c' of employed males of United States birth were on
the farms in Canada in 192!l — a proportion 20 p.c. greater than that of the Canadian born
male population and over twice that for the British born. The French, Germanic and Scan-
dinavian immigrants from the United States are almost exclusively agricultural people, and
probably a larger proportion of the British born in the United States are agriculturists
than of those coming directly from the British possessions or the British Isles. Immigrants
. from no other nativity group showed such a large percentage employed in agriculture as
is shown by the United States born male immigrants in Canada. All other industries,
except mining, quarrying and domestic and personal service, claimed a smaller proportion
of the United States born immigrants than of the Canadian born.
The European born males as a group are also largely engaged in agriculture, although
not to such a marked degree as the United States born. That statement does not apply-
to the immigrants from all European countries; it applies merely to the total, and if
reference be made to the rural and urban distribution of Europeans in Canada in Chapter V
■ it will be seen that there are many specific European nationalities for whom the reverse is
true. The Hebrews and Poles, for example, from South, Eastern and Central Europe are
exceptionally urban people. The Italians and Greeks are also among the most urban
settlers. What is true of Europeans in general, however, is true of the Austrians and
Russians and Ukrainians, who are largely rural, as are also the Scandinavian and Germanic
people. It is unfortunate that the work involved in classifying the European group by
occupation and specific countries of birth is so great, for such a table would be especially
enlightening. However, by comparing the tables on occupational distribution for Europeans
as a whole with those showing rural and urban distribution for specific peoples in Chapter V,
a general idea of occupational distribution may be obtained for a number of the individual
immigrant peoples from various parts of Europe. It is pointed out in passing that a large
proportion of the European born, as compared with the Canadian born males, was employed
in the mining industries of the country.
The Asiatic males, like those from the British Possessions, were not engaged in agri-
cultural employments to a very marked extent in 1921. The logging and fishing and trapping
occupational groups claimed a disproportionate share of such immigrants, as did the wood
and paper manufacturing industries and especially the domestic and personal services. The
occupational distribution of the Asiatics is unique in this respect. A comparatively few
industries claim the great majority of Oriental male immigrants. These immigrants showed
as large a proportion in domestic and personal services as the Canadian born had in
agriculture, and only a slightly smaller proportion in wood and paper manufacturing than
the Canadian bom had in all manufacturing industries. A careful study of Table 127
will be abundantly repaid.
The material is presented by industries in graphic form in Chart 33. It is seen
that the United States immigrants are by far the most agricultural of all incoming peoples,
and that the Continental Europeans as a group stand second. The proportion in agriculture
for both of these immigrant groups ds greater than that of the Canadian born males.
The least agricultural are the Asiatics and those from the British Possessions. Immigrants
from the British Isles, though showing a larger proportion of males following agricultural
pursuits than either, the Asiatics or those from the British. Possessions, rank far behind the
Canadian born males in this respect and very much farther behind the other European
and United States born settlers. The chart also shows the different proportions of the
males of specified nativity in all extractive industries combined. What is said of agriculture
applies to the extractive industries as a whole.
In the iron and steel manufacturing and the construction and transportation group*
immigrants from the British Isles and British Possessions lead. The European born show
about as large a proportion as the Canadian bom, and those from the United States con-
siderably lower. The proportion of Asiatics in all three industries, with the exception of
transportation, is negligible. The case of transportation is explained largely by the use
of Chinese labour for maintenance work in the mountains. The section of the chart dealing
wUh the groups of industries under the heading "Trade" is unique in that the variation
20S
OCCUPATIONAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE POPULATION
Chart XXXIII
PERCENTAGE of EMPLOYED MALES m SPECIFIED INDUSTRIES
by NATIVITY GROUPS. n CANADA, 1921.
Canadian Born
British Isles
Possessions
United States
Europe
Asia
Canadian Born
British Isles
" Possessions
United States
Europe
Asia
Canadian Born
British Isles
» Possessions
United States
Europe
Asia
Canadian Born
British Isles
* Possessions
United States
Europe
Asia
agriculture all extractive industries
%0 10 20 30 40 50 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 %
MANUFACTURING
IRON! STEEL
CONSTRUCTION
TRADE
r
TRANSPORTATION
SERVICES
NATIVITY OF GAINFULLY EMPLOYED IN LEADING OCCUPATIONS 209
in proportions of males employed for the respective nativity groups is very slight. A com-
paratively few European nationalities raise the percentage of the Europeans to a figure
almost as large as that for the Canadian born.
In the service group the Asiatics lead through having such a large proportion of their
employed males engaged in personal and domestic services. The numbers in custom, repair
and professional work are negligible. The relatively high percentages for those from the
British Isles and British Possessions appearing in the service classification are due mainly
to the domestic and; personal service and the professional service branches. With the excep-
tion of the male immigrants from the British Isles and the British Possessions, the proportion
of Canadian born males in professional work is greater than for. all other groups. ...
The British Possessions sent a larger proportion of their men to our manufacturing
industries than any other nativity group, the British Isles- and Asia- ranking • second and
third 'respectively: ' Male" immigration" from" the" United" States "shows'th'e" lowest""percentage"
in the manufacturing industries, as is to be expected from the predominantly agricultural
nature of immigration from that country. The proportion of European born males in
manufacturing occupations is about equal to the proportion of the Canadian born. A
detailed analysis by provinces would be very useful and it is hoped that such may be
prepared at a later date.
A few words remain to be said regarding the distribution of the employed femalea as
shown in Table 128, p. 205. As has been pointed out, the proportion of females1 among
the immigrants is comparatively small as compared with the native Canadian population,
and that fact should be kept in mind in comparing the percentages for the various nativity
groups. Over 50 p.c. of all gainfully occupied women of Canadian birth appear in the
. services group, practical^' all of whom were either in domestic or professional services. Of
their employed women, the British Possessions show the largest percentage in all services,
and the United States stand second, with Asia following a close third. Further, a larger
proportion of women from the British Possessions are in domestic service than of women
from any other group. Asia, the British Isles and Europe follow in order. The United
States, with the lowest proportion of all immigrant groups, showed 30.37 p.c. of their gain-
fully occupied women in domestic occupations, which was a proportion larger by a quarter
than obtained for the Canadian born. The Canadian born, on the other hand, led in the
proportion of women in professional work, and the United States born ranked second. All
others showed much smaller proportions.
While service is the most important occupational group for women irrespective of
nativity, manufacturing ranked second in importance for the women in every case. The
textiles claimed a larger proportion of women than all other manufacturing industries com-
bined. Trade generally ranks third in importance as an occupation for women. The
Asiatics are an exception, however, with the percentage engaged in trade somewhat larger
than in the manufacturing industries. The numbers of Asiatic women gainfully occupied
are so small that the exception is not significant.
Generally speaking, the bulk of immigrant women are in the service group, especially
in domestic service, and considerable proportions are in manufacturing, notably in the
textile industries. Of the remainder the largest proportion is engaged in trade. As is to
be expected, the percentage in the extractive industries and in heavy manufacturing work
is small.
TABLE 129— PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF POPULATION OF CANADA 15 YEARS AND OVER, AND
OF PERSONS ENGAGED IN GAINFUL OCCUPATIONS, BY SEX AND NATIVITY, 1921.
Male
Female
Birthplace
Population
15 years
of age
and over
Population
engaged
in gainful
occupations
Population
15 years
of age
and over
Population
engaged
in gainful
occupations
Total
100-0
67-0
17-4
15-6
100-0
65-7
18-0
16-3
100-0
71-8
16-5
11-7
100-0
73-7
18-2
8-2
74422—14
210
OCCUPATIONAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE POPULATION
TABLE 130.— NUMBER OF PERSONS ENGAGED IN GAINFUL OCCUPATIONS, EXPRESSED AS PER-
CENTAGES OF THE TOTAL POPULATION 15 YEARS OF AGE AND OVER, BY NATIVITY AND SEX,
FOR CANADA, 1921.
Males
Females
Birthplace
Population
15 years
of age
and over
Number
engaged
in gainful
occupations
Gainfully
employed as
percentage
of
population
15 and over
Population
15 years
of age
and over
Number
engaged
in gainful
occupations
Gainfully
employed as
percentage
of
population
15 and over
3,006,476
2,014,473
523,193
468,810
2,683,019
1,762,485
482,894
437,640
89-2
87-5
92-3
93-3
2,762,447
1,984,172
455,626
322,649
490,150
361,171
88,991
40,008
17-7
18-2
19-5
12-4
CHAPTER XII
RELATION OF ORIGINS TO FERTILITY, INFANT MORTALITY,
BLINDNESS AND DEAF MUTISM
FERTILITY OF THE PEOPLES OP CANADA
Natural increase is a subject of first importance in any study of population. This is
especially true in Canada, where the population is composed of many diverse elements.
Immigration brings new stocks into the country. These stocks reproduce. At first the
yearly influx of immigrants may keep pace with or exceed the additions by natural increase.
It is only a matter of time, however, before the annual number of births becomes greater
than the annual increase due to immigration. If imtmigrant stocks reproduce more rapidly
than the basic stocks of the country, they must eventually outnumber them. How soon
that condition will come about depends on (i) the number of immigrants in the first
instance, (2) the numbers immigrating each year, and (3) the difference in the fertility
rates. It is immaterial whether the general level of the rates of reproduction be high or
low. So long as differences in the rates exist, the population structure changes. Such
changes are much more rapid than is commonly supposed.
The 1921 census furnished data from which important inferences may be drawn in
respect to the rates of natural increase. The 1926 census makes possible a more definite
comparison of birth rates. Statistics of 1921 will be examined first, and then those of 1926.
Proportions oj Children in the Several Origin Groups. — Table 131 shows the percentage
of each stock in Canada below 10 years of age as on June 1, 1921. Approximately one
quarter of the total population of Canada was under 10 years of age on that date. The
existence of such variation as appears in the table is remarkable. The seven origin groups
with the highest and the seven with the lowest percentages are as follows:
The Upper Group
The Lower Group
Origin
Percentage
under
10 years
of age
Grigin
Percentage
under
10 years
of age
36-60
35-31
35-31
34-64
33-70
33-67
32-91
518
14-27
20-70
20-00
21-61
21-96
22-33
Polish
Welsh. .
It is significant that all the stocks in the group showing the highest percentages under
10 years of age are from Eastern and Central Europe. Included among them are the four
principal Slavic peoples in Canada. On the other hand, among the seven origin groups
showing the lowest percentages are found all four British stocks and the Negroes.
What is the meaning of a high or low percentage under 10 years of age? The following
factors would seem to be among the chief influences determining the size of the figures:
first, birth rate; second, • infant mortality rate; third, extent, date, age and sex distribution
of immigration; fourth, emigration; fifth, death rate. A high birth rate makes for a high
percentage of children in the population; a high infant mortality rate works in the opposite
direction. If immigration has been great compared with the numbers of a given stock
already in Canada, and if it has been heavy in very recent years, one would expect a
smaller percentage of children, because an immigrant population normally shows a higher
proportion at adult ages. On the other hand, if immigration is of comparatively large
211
74422— 14J
212 RELATION OF ORIGIN TO FERTILITY AND INFANT MORTALITY
proportions in the earlier years and then ceases for a period, the young adults marry and
the number of children increases very rapidly. Again, inequality of sex distribution tends
to lower the percentage under 10 years of age. In a population where large numbers of
men in a given stock are unmarried, the number of births would normally constitute a smaller
proportion of the total .population. And finally, emigration would affect the proportions.
Unattached adults emigrate more readily than those with families. With these points in
mind, let us refer back to the two origin groups— the one group with the seven highest
percentages and the other with the seven lowest.
As to date of immigration, in no case has the proportion of an immigrant stock arriving
during the last seven years of the decade. been significant. So, in all cases, the bulk of the
children iinder 10 years of age must be Canadian born. .As .to. emigration, in all probability
the British stocks in Canada were affected by that to at least as great an extent as were
non-British and non-French stocks during the years prior to 1921. Such factors, then, were
not of major importance in occasioning the wide range of percentages under 10 years
of age in the various stocks in Canada in 1921.
The relation between the volume of immigrants prior to the war and the numbers
of a given stock resident in Canada is of greater significance. With the foreign stocks,
the inflowing stream of immigration constituted a much greater proportion of the total origin
group in Canada than with the British and French stocks. The effect of this difference was
to produce an age distribution abnormally favourable to high fertility. With larger propor-
tions in the early adult and middle years of life in 1914, it is natural to expect larger
numbers of children born during the subsequent years of the decade to the foreign born
parents of other than British and French stocks. How far this influence explains the high
percentage under 10 years cannot be measured with the available data for 1921.
As against the favourable age distribution of the foreign stocks there are several
important influences especially unfavourable to natural increase. First, all the Eastern and
Central European stocks mentioned above show much larger percentages of surplus males
than the British stocks. Second, their infant mortality rates are much higher. Both
these factors make for low percentages under 10 years of age.
We have, therefore, unfavourable sex distribution and high infant mortality rates tending
to neutralize favourable age distribution. In view of this compensating action, it would
appear that the high percentages under 10 years of age in the several stocks in the first
group are largely caused- by abnormally high birth rates. In any case, it is significant
that the combined effect of high birth rates and favourable age distribution has been
so great that, in spite of high infant 'mortality and unfavourable sex distribution, these
. stocks show proportions under 10 years of age two-thirds larger than the British stocks.
The relative importance of fertility and age distribution of women between 15 and 49
years will be discussed below in reviewing the 1926 figures for the Prairie Provinces,' but
before passing to that part of the analysis a few additional points may be mentioned in'
connection with Table 131. The Italians, with an infant mortality rate somewhat larger
than that of the British stocks and with over twice as many adult males as females in
Canada, show 32.03 p.c. of their population under 10 years of age as against 21 p.c. for
the British. The Greeks, with between three and four times more males than females (21
years and over) and with an equally high infant mortality rate, had a percentage under
10 years one quarter larger than that for the British stocks. In the Japanese stock, with
two and a half times as many men as women, 24.03 p.c. of the total were below 10 years
of age. The proportions under 10 for the Scandinavian and Germanic peoples, on the other
hand, were only, slightly above that for the British stocks.
PERCENTAGES OF EACH ORIGIN UNDER 10 YEARS OF AGE 213
TABLE 131.— PERCENTAGE'OF EACH ORIGIN UNDER 10 YEARS OF AGE, 1921.
Rank
•
Origin
Per cent
under
lOyrs.
1 '
36-60
35-31
35-31
34-64
2
3
4
5
Polish
6
33-67
32-91
7
8
9
32-03
28-17
27-83
27-79
27-40
26-88
' 26-83
26-54
25-98
25-26
24-90
24-79
24-03
23-82
23-55
22-60
22-48
10
11
12
13
14
15
16 •
17
18
19
20
Dutch
21
22
23
24
25
26
Welsh
27
28
29
30
31
32 '
33
34
Table 132 shows that the North Western Continental group had a proportion under 10
years of age 18 p.c. greater than that for the British stocks, while the proportion of South,
Eastern and Central Europeans was 60 p.c. larger. The percentages for the Scandinavian
and Germanic peoples exceeded that for the British by less than 20 p.c. Those for the
Latin and Greek and Slavic groups were larger by 53 p.c. and 62 p.c. respectively. The
percentage for the North Western Europeans stands midway between those for the
British and French. The South, Eastern and Central Europeans are obviously quite in a
class by themselves, with a proportion under 10 years one-fifth larger than the French and
three-fifths larger than the British.
Such facts are exceedingly important to the future population structure of Canada,
as well as to its social and political well-being. The stocks mentioned as having the highest
percentages under 10 years of age are among the most illiterate in the Dominion. They
are backward in learning the languages of the country and in echoo' attendance. They
segregate into colonies, and do not intermarry with the basic Canadian stocks. With one
or two exceptions, they contribute more than proportionate numbers to our prisons and
reformatories. Such considerations claim special attention because of the tendency in recent
years for the South, Eastern and Central European immigrants greatly to outnumber those
from the North Western parts of the continent. So long as differential fertility rates persist
and immigration does its part in keeping the age distribution favourable to fertility, the
relative contributions of such stocks to future generations will continue to be somewhat
as depicted in Tables 131 and 132. The subsequent analysis leads one to believe that
differing fertility is perhaps the most important cause of the variation in the percentages.
214 RELATION OF ORIGIN TO FERTILITY AND INFANT MORTALITY
TABLE 132 -PERCENTAGE UNDER 10 YEARS OF AGE OF SPECIFIED ORIGIN GROUPS IN CANADA,
1921.
Origin
British
French
North Western Europeans (Continental).
South, Eastern and Central European
Scandinavian
Germanic
Latin and Greek
Slavic
(2)
Percentages
in Column 1
related to
that for the
British stocks
as a base
100
132
118
160
119
118
153
162
Birth Rates in the Prairie Provinces, 1926.— The cogency of the above remarks
is apparent when an examination is made of births in the Prairie Provinces in
1926. Table 133 was prepared! from data given in the Census of 1926 and statistics
on births' for that year. A few explanations may not be out of place. A standard
birth rate was computed in the following manner: the number o'f births in the
Prairie Provinces to mothers in the several quinquennial age groups was related to the
number of women in the population of corresponding ages. A standard rate was thus
found for the whole female population between 15 and 49 years. This was applied to the
age distribution of the women of the several origins, and an expected rate was computed
for each stock. This expected rate appears in Column 1, Table 133. The difference between
the figure of 10.6 for the French and that of 10.3 for the total population is due entirely
to the more favourable age distribution of the women of French origin. The percentages
for the other stocks are subject to a similar interpretation. In Column 3 the expected rates
are expressed as percentages of the standard rate. The age distribution of the French
women between 15 and 49 years was 2.9 p.c. more favourable to fertility than that of.
the total female population between those ages, that of the Danish women 5.8 p:c. more
favourable, that of the Icelandic women 7.8 p.c, and so on. Column 4 expresses the
actual rates as percentages of the standard rate, and in Column 5 we have an index of
fertility1 obtained by expressing the actual rates given, in Column 2 as percentages of the
exipected rates of Column 1. By expressing the actual dm terms of the expected, the influence
of age distribution is eliminated. In Column 6 the. index of fertility shown in Column 5
is expressed as a percentage of the rate for. the British stocks.
A comparison of Column 2 and Column 4 confirms the suggestion made in a preceding
part of this chapter, that differences in age distribution are by no means adequate to
explain variations in the crude birth rates. Only with the Greeks is the age distribution
of the women between 15 and 49 years responsible for a variation of as much as 10 p.c.
from the standard number of births, and' the number of Greek women in the Prairie
Provinces was so small that the exception is unimportant. For all but three origins
variations in fertility are many times more important than differences in birth rate due
to age distribution. The index of fertility in Column 5 being free from the influence of
age, the dispersion in the percentages furnishes conclusive evidence of significant differences
in the birth rates for the women of the different origin groups in Canada,
High fertility may be due in part to larger proportions married— especially in the
younger ages. (It was shown in Chapter HI that foreign born women had a larger
percentage married and hence might be expected to have proportionately more children
than the British born and Canadian born). On the other hand, a high birth rate may be a
true social or biological characteristic.
iThis index of fertility is in terms of all women of the several origin groups. While the age factor is
removed, differences in conjugal condition are reflected in the index. This fact should be kept in mind in
reading this section.
CORRELATION BETWEEN FERTILITY, RURAL RESIDENCE, ILLITERACY 215
The reader is left to make a detailed examination of Table 138 for himself and
especially of Column 6. A word of caution, however, is necessary. Large numbers reported
in the census as of Russian and Dutch origin spoke German as the mother tongue, and
there- is reason to suppose that many of these were recorded as of German origin on the
birth certificates of their children. Only on such a supposition can the excessively high
figure for the Germans be reconciled with the moderate figure for the Russians and the
very low percentage for the Dutch. Similar discrepancies probably account for the behaviour
of the data for the Roumanians and Serbo-Croatians.
TABLE 133.— BIRTH RATES PER 100 WOMEN, 15-49 YEARS, OF SPECIFIED ORIGINS, IN THE PRAIRIE
PROVINCES, 1926.
Origin
Total
British
French
Austrian
Belgian
Czechoslovaks
Danish
Dutch
Finnish
German
Greek
Hebrew
Hungarian
Icelandic
Italian
Norwegian
Polish
Roumanian. . . .
Russian
Serbo-Croatian
Swedish.. .._...
Swiss '. ..
Ukrainian
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
Index of
Expected
Actual
fertility1
Expected
Actual
aa
as
standard
rate
rate
percentage
percentage
= 100
of standard
of standard
(Col. 2 -
Col. 1)
10-3
10-3
100-0
100-0
100
10-3
8-4
100-0
81-8
82
10-6
131
102-9
127-3
124
10-6
14-6
102-9
141-8
138
10-3
8-3
100-0
80-6
81
10-3
12-3
100-0
119-4
119
10-9
10-0
105-8
97-1
92
10-5
7-9
101-9
76-7
75
9-3
10-5
90-3
101-0
113
10-3
17-0
100-0
165-0
165
13-2
12-9
128-2
125-2
98
10-2
7-0
99-0
68-0
69
10-3
12-2
100-0
118-4
118
11-1
9-0
107-8
87-4
81
10-9
11-3
105-8
109-7
104
10-4
11-2
1010
108-7
108
10-3
11-6
1000
112-6
113
10-6
17-2
102-9
167-0
162
10-4
10-2
101-0
99-0
98
10-3
18-5
100-0
179-6
180
10-3
9-8
1000
95-1
95
10-4
9-8
101-0
95-1
94
10-1
15-0
98-1
145-6
149
(6)
Index of
fertility,1
_ taking
index for
British
as 100
122
100
151
168
99
145
112
91
138
201
120
84
144
99
127
132
138'
198
120
220
116
115
182
1 In terms of all females, 15-49.
Correlation Between Fertility, Rural Domicile, Illiteracy and Length of Residence in
Canada.— Further light is thrown on the subject by the method of multiple correlation.
Table 134 assembles the following data on the Prairie Provinces for the year 1926: (1) .index
of fertility from Table 133 for each origin (women IS to 49) ; (2) the proportion of women
(21 years and over) rural; (3) the percentage of women (10 years and over) illiterate;
and (4) the percentage of both sexes (21 years and over) North American born. The latter
is used as an index of length of residence. The figure 124 opposite- the French in Column 1
means that higher fertility and more favourable conjugal condition caused the birth rate
among women of French origin to be 24 p.c. greater than the rate for the whole popida-
tion. Favourable age distribution is eliminated. Similarly, the figure of 82 for the British
stocks signifies that the fertility of the women of these stocks was 18 p.c. below that of the
population as a whole, quite apart from considerations of age. The figures for the Rus-
sians, Germans and Dutch were combined for reasons mentioned above. .Complete data
were not available for the Serbo-Croatians, so that that stock had to be omitted.
A multiple correlation was taken in a manner similar to . that described in Chapter VI,
with the fertility index as the dependent variable. The exceptionally high coefficient of
+ -88± -05 was the result. The prediction equation was as follows: X]=0-66X2
+2.86X3+0.37X4+34.80, where
Xi=the index of fertility
X2= Percentage of women (21 and oyer) rural.
Xs^Percentage of women (10 and over) illiterate.
Xj= Percentage of both sexes (21 and over) North American born.
The predicted and actual values appear in Chart 34.
216 RELATION OF ORIGIN TO FERTILITY AND INFANT MORTALITY
The above equation is a generalized statement based on the experience of eighteen
origin groups in Canada and contains information of general scientific interest as well as
of special consequence to the Dominion.
First, stocks showing a preference for rural life normally have higher birth rates
than the more urban. Rural residence per se is probably more favourable to fertility.. The
existence of such a causal connection could be demonstrated by comparing the birth rates
of the rural and urban sections of each stock. It is of minor importance, however, from
the point of view of this study, whether high fertility is 'the result of rural . environment
or of biological and social characteristics associated with rural preferences. The essential
fact is that rural peoples have high fertility.
Second, illiteracy and high fertility go together. The larger the percentages of an origin
group unable to read or write any language,' the higher is the birth rate. In the
report on illiteracy to which reference was made in Chapter IX, it is shown that high
illiteracy and low educational status among the literate of the same origin go hand in hand.
The percentage of illiterates, then, reflects in a very adequate manner the educational
standard of the group. In view of this fact; the high positive correlation between fertility
and illiteracy is exceedingly significant.
Third, the positive relation appearing between birth rate and the percentage North
American born suggests that the birth rate of immigrant peoples normally goes up rather
than down in the second and in some cases possibly in the third generation of Canadian
residence. The word " normally '' is intended to imply that the statement is applicable to
most immigrant stocks. The generalization is applied explicitly to immigrant' stocks,
because sixteen out of the eighteen groups examined were of foreign origin. The pre-
sumed tendency towards higher birth rates is associated with the second generation because
the percentage of most non-British and non-French stocks resident in Western Canada for
three or more generations is very small. The presumption in favour of this interpretation
is strengthened by the fact that when the analysis is pursued further by the method of
partial and multiple correlation it becomes clear that the use of the' proportion North
American born (21 and over) as an index of length of residence is not vitiated by a
transient abnormality in sex distribution.
An impetus- to the birth rate following immigration to a new country is not without
historical precedent. It is reasonable to suppose that Canada is more favourable to large
families than are the countries of Europe from which many of our immigrants come. The
pressure of population on natural resources is certainly not so great; indeed, in rural dis-
tricts the child is an asset. This is especially so in a growing country where agricultural
labour is both scarce and expensive. A stimulus to the birth rate would also occur wherever
the rise in the standard of living failed to keep pace with increased' earnings. Many other
contributory causes could be suggested, but whatever the explanation or explanations may
be, the correlation at least draws attention to the cumulative effect on our population
structure of the introduction of large bodies of immigrant agriculturists.
While the association of higher birth rates with larger proportions North American
born (after allowances are made for illiteracy and rural' and urban residence), seems to
warrant the aforesaid influences, one should not overlook the possibility of the percentage
of adults of North American birth reflecting more than length of residence. The explana-
tions in the last two paragraphs, therefore, should be regarded as tentative until such time
as more detailed classification of both vital statistics and census data makes direct verifica-
tion possible. '
When the standard deviations of X2, X3 and X4 are related to the regression equation,,
another important fact is revealed. Illiteracy is more than twice as important in the
equation in accounting for a high fertility as either rural domicile or length of residence
in Canada. Illiteracy and low educational standards probably cause high fertility. That
the causal connection works in that direction is not proven by our data. It has been
demonstrated, however, that origin groups that tolerate low educational standards have high
birth rates and that the two are clearly associated characteristics peculiar to certain stocks
in Canada.1
1 See also Illiteracy and School Attendance in Canada, page 129.
CORRELATION BETWEEN FERTILITY, RURAL RESIDENCE, ILLITERACY 217
This striking correlation recalls the close relationship established in earlier chapters
between illiteracy, intermarriage, school attendance, learning of the languages of Canada,
and crime. Now, fertility may be added; and when viewed in the light of the previous
correlations, it is undoubtedly the most significant of all.
TABLE 134— INDEX OF FERTILITY, PERCENTAGE OF FEMALES (1) RURAL, (2) ILLITERATE AND
. (3) PROPORTION OF POPULATION NORTH AMERICAN BORN, FOR SPECIFIED ORIGINS IN THE
PRAIRIE PROVINCES, 1926.
Origin
Index of
fertility
P.c. of
females
21 years
and over,
rural
P.c. of
females
10 years
and over,
illiterate
P.c. of
both sexes
North Am-
erican born
82
124
138
81
119
92
131
113
69
118
81
•101
108
113
162
95
94
149
47
64
70
70
65
66
72
83
7
77
55
41
77
63
68
73
63
77
•3
4-7
190.
2-8
5-6
■8
70
4-2
10-7
11-7
2-9
9-8
10
164
19-3
1-3
1-8
26-3
70
86
6
9
25
37
47
15
9
p
34
7
45
8
3
31
49
3
Chart XXXIV
NDEX of FERTILITY: ACTUAL INDEX as SHOWN. n FIRST COLUMN
of TABLE 134 COMPARED*™ INDEX PREDICTED on the BASIS
of the CONDITIONS STATED inthe REMAINING COLUMNS0'' ™*T
TAB'LE.
* X, Z JJ
z X. I
< VI »
•
«
2
I 4
X
t •
X
02
55
2
<
a 5
2
z
E P o z J 2 a i
f. ■ » i S^S z 2 j z * g
u u 7 ^yoc u < o < >s 5
E * - °rfu n: S ° 5 § S
° (£ n- 2© k. z § 2 *
10= ,-J< JC<IU»
X « <D u - " 5.
160. 1 1 1 1 1
3
I
?
-f\
o
ACTU
M.
t
150
140
PRED
CTED
' — <
I
l
>
IJO
<
I
120
(
l
<
i /
i
<
>
110
(
>
100
SO
<
>
\
' <
>
90
70
/ c
'
i
fhe /T7t////p/e corre/dr/zo/T AeAvre/7 />
-tr/ei/fefaj 'from f£e reyres&ion eye/jf/o/r of
^ir//7i/ex of"fer/////y.c?/7e/ /Ar fArtre c<?/7/////o/7s
s/roiYn /rr/Ae fe6/tr.
218 RELATION OF ORIGIN TO FERTILITY AND INFANT MORTALITY
INFANT MORTALITY
Attention is now called to another important section of vital statistics, that of infant
mortality. The numbers of births and deaths of children under one year are tabulated by
. the origin of the father, and the data for the registration area for the year 1925 appear in
Table 135. The number of infant deaths is shown as a percentage of the total births in
Column three, thus giving the crude infant mortality rate for each origin. The figures
for the French include only those of French origin in parts of Canada outside the
province of Quebec.
The usual practice has been followed in computing the infant mortality rates, namely,
that of expressing the number of deaths of infants under twelve months in a given calendar
year as a percentage of the number of births in the same ye&T. In doing that, however,
certain assumptions are made which may be mentioned in passing. First, a large percentage
of infant deaths occurring in the given year consist of those who have been born some
time during the previous twelve months: For instance, of the 12,169 infants less than one
year of age who died in 1925 perhaps half were born in 1924, yet the total infant deaths
in 1925 is expressed as a percentage of the total births in that calendar year. The assump-
tion underlying this procedure is that no great error appears in the infant mortality rates
as a result of using the 1925 figures of births as a basis with which to compare the deaths
in that period. A slight error is involved, of course, and it might assume considerable
dimensions if, for some reason, the birth rate was very much higher or lower in the later
year. Under normal conditions, however, the error is negligible, and as the above is the
most practical method of securing a rate it is usually followed.
. The second assumption is that as many children under one year of age came into the
Dominion as left it in the period examined. The influence of any probable difference
between the number of infants under one year emigrating and immigrating can, in the
nature of the case, be only very slight. So for all practical purposes it is correct to follow
the universal procedure and to say that approximately 8-07 out of every 100 babies born
in the registration area of Canada die before living twelve months.
TABLE 135.-NUMBER OF DEATHS OF INFANTS UNDER ONE YEAR OF AGE, EXPRESSED AS A PER-
CENTAGE OF NUMBER OF BIRTHS, BY ORIGINS, FOR THE REGISTRATION AREA OF CANADA,
1925.
Origin
(1)
No. of
births
(2)
Deaths of
children
under
■ 1 year
(3)
Per cent
150,809
51,846
20,093
22,773
807
18,573
9,093
72
1,832
480
133
349
251
484
1,834
496
197
11
395
384
1,958
2,161
752
1,460
370
1,638
1,951
599
2,054
201
1,343
227
178
4,884
226
704
12,169
3,808
1,347
■ 1,401
36
2,127
683
8
252
44
8
16
16
23
110
33
20
2
72
13
413
177
65
61
59
112
240
83
188
11
87
18
21
476
22
117
807
7-34
6-70
4-46
11-45
Dutch
6-00
6-65
6-84
Polish
13 '86
9 -15'
5-47\
6-48
7-93
11-80
9-75
9-73
16-62
ORIGIN AND INFANT MORTALITY 219
Rates for specified origins are arranged in order of size in Table 136. There is con-
siderable variation shown in that table. Among the Indians 21 out of every one hundred
infants born in 1925 died before reaching the age of twelve months, while among the
Icelandic people, for example, the rate was between 3 and 4 p.c. Thus nearly six times
as large a proportion of infants born to Indian fathers died in the first year of life as in
the case of those of Icelandic parentage. So great a difference is exceedingly significant.
The numerically most 'important Slavic stocks in Canada appear in the top half of the
'table, as do the Latin and Greek peoples. The Germanic, Scandinavian and British stocks
are grouped in the lower half.
The difference between groups of peoples is shown more clearly in Table 137, which
arranges them according to geographical and linguistic classes. There is considerable varia-
tion within each of the geographical groups, suggesting that geographical origin is not a
determining factor in the matter of mortality rate. The North Western European group,
however, shows lower limits, both at the top and the bottom, than does the South, Eastern
and Central European group, and the average stock in the former case shows an infant
mortality of 6.39 -p.c. and in the latter case 10.32 p.c. It is rather surprising to find such
wide variation in rates for the Asiatic stocks. The average is unduly high, owing to the
influence of the mortality rates for the Hindoos and the Syrians, whose numbers are very
small. It is interesting to note that the infant mortality for both the Japanese and Chinese
is below the median rate for either the Latin and Greek or Slavic peoples. Indeed the rate
of 4. 58 p.c. for the Chinese is one of the lowest in Canada, a lower figure being shown only
in three cases, namely, the Welsh, Jews and Icelanders. The low rate among the Chinese, how-
ever may be due to incomplete registration of deaths among a small and unassimilated group.
Among the linguistic groups the rates for the Scandinavians appear on the whole to
be the lowest. The average rate for the English speaking stocks is slightly higher than
that for the Scandinavians. The rate of 4.46 for the Welsh is a little greater than the
rate of 3.39 for the Icelandic, the lowest in'the Scandinavian group; and the rate for the
English, the highest of the English speaking stocks, is slightly higher than that for the
Norwegians, the highest among the Scandinavian stocks. With both lower and upper limits
higher than the lower and upper limits of the Scandinavian group and with the average
somewhat greater, it is safe to say that the English speaking stocks show a higher infant
mortality rate than the Scandinavian peoples. Both groups, however, show comparatively
low rates. The difference is not great.
The rate for the average Germanic stock is higher than that for the average English
speaking or Scandinavian people, although the rate for the Dutch (6.00 p.c.) is lower
than for any except the Welsh in the former group. Among the English, Scandinavian, and
Germanic peoples, the Belgians, with an infant mortality rate of 9.17 p.c, are considerably
the highest, and the Icelanders, with a rate of 3.39 p.c, are by far the lowest. The other
nine stocks are scattered more or less promiscuously between these upper and lower limits.
Those of Latin and Greek origin show much higher mortality rates; their average is
the highest of any group. The Austrians have the highest rate among the Slavs, and the
Poles, Ukrainians and Russians foMow in the order named. These four origins inclwle the
numerically .most important Slavic peoples • immigrating to Canada. The rate for the
Russians, the lowest of the four, is equal to that of the Belgians, which, with the exception
of the French, was the highest of the North Western Europeans. On the other hand, some
of the Slavs show remarkably low rates. The Czechs, the Bulgarians and Serbo-Croatians
ail have infant mortality rates below those of the Irish or the Swedes, but while this is to
the credit of those eastern peoples, it is not of such vital significance to Canada as the
higher rates for the Austrians, Poles, Ukrainians and Russians, whose numbers are so large.
The order of infant mortality rates for various origins in Canada appears somewhat
similar to. that obtained by arranging Ihe origins in order of percentages illiterate. In
order to determine 'whether any significant relationship between infant mortality and illiter-
acy existed, the two series were correlated, but the interference of one or two extreme
cases running directly contrary to expectations, e.g., the Chinese, rendered the results
unreliable. When these cases are eliminated a moderate coefficient appears and conse-
quently the conclusion is tentatively advanced that some connection does exist between
infant mortality and illiteracy.
220 RELATION OF ORIGIN TO FERTILITY AND INFANT MORTALITY
TABLE 136.-
-INFANT MORTALITY RATE IN THE REGISTRATION AREA OF CANADA, BY ORIGINS
ARRANGED IN ORDER OF SIZE, 1925.
Rank
Origin
Rate per
100 births
21-09
18-22
Hindu .".
18-18
15-95
13-86
13-76
12-30
11-80
11-45
nil
1015
9-75
9-17
915
8-64
8-19
7-93
7-51
7-34
6-84
6-70
6-65
6-48
6-37
6-15
6-02
6-00
5-47
4-75
4-58
4-46
4-18
3-39
TABLE 137.-
-INFANT MORTALITY RATE IN THE REGISTRATION AREA OF CANADA, BY GEOGRAPH-
ICAL AND LINGUISTIC GROUPING OF ORIGINS, 1925.
Origin
Infant
mortality
rate
Origin
Infant
mortality
rate
North Western European—
9-17
7-93
7-51
7-34
6-84
6-70
6-48
6-15
6-00
4-75
4-46
3-39
18-22
13-86
13-76
12-30
10-15
9-75
9-15
8-19
6-65
6-02
5-47
18-18
11-80
1111
8-64
4-58
British-
7-34
6-70
6-15
4-46
Average 6-16
Scandinavian-
6-84
6-48
4-75
3-39
Germanic —
Average 6-39 .
South, Eastern and Central European —
9-17
7-51
6-00
Latin and Greek —
13-S6
10-15
8-19
Average .10-73
Slavic —
Average 10-32
Asiatic —
13-76
12-30
9-75
Q ■
915
6-37
6-02
5-47
Average 10-86
ORIGINS OF DEAF MUTES AND BLIND
221
DEAF MUTISM AND BLINDNESS
Tables 138 and 139 show the numbers of deaf-mutes and blind in Canada with the
number per 100,000 for each important origin. The French, with 87.8 deaf mutes per
100,000, show the highest rate of all groups in Canada (Table 138). The Germans come
next, with a rate of 71.9 per 100,000. The lowest was the Italians, with only 29.4 deaf
mutes per 100,000, while the Russians rank next to the Italians with 40 per 100,000. The
English speaking stocks show approximately 50 deaf mutes per 100,000 of the population.
Taible 139, showing the blind by origin for the year 1921, presents one startling fact: 209
Indians out of every 100,000 in Canada are blind, a rate nearly 12 times the size of that
of the Russians and over four times the average for the English speaking stocks. It is
interesting to note that the proportion of blind among the Germans, Italians and Russians
is lower than among the French and English speaking stocks in Canada.
TABLE 138— ORIGINS OF DEAF MUTES IN CANADA, 1921.
Origin
Number
of deaf
mutes
Population
(000)
omitted
Number
per
100,000
1,327
568
570
2,154
212
62
20
40
349
32
2,587 (>)
1,108
1,173
2,453
295
111
68
100
51-3
51-3
48-6
87-8
71-9
55-9
29-4
400
-
Total
5,334
-
_
f1) Includes English, Welsh and a negligible number from Royal Canadian Navy.
TABLE 139— ORIGINS OF THE BLIND IN CANADA, 1921.
Origin
Number
Population
(000)
omitted
Number
per
100,000
1,114
583
647
1,387
98
232
17
18
260
40
2,5870)
1,108
1,173
2,453
295
111
68
100
43 0
,52-6
55-2
66-5
33-2
209-0
250
180
_
-
4,396
-
_
0) Includes English, Welsh and a negligible number of the Royal Canadian Navy.
INDEX
Page
Ago distribution 30, 31, 33-5, 211-12, 214-15
and crime 79
and criminality 200-2
and nativity 77-81
by linguistic groups 82, 84
by nativity groups 82-3
effect on social action 79
importance of 79
inadequacy of data on 77
of different stocks 81-4
of foreign born 76-81
of immigrants 60
Age lag 81
— of Canadian and foreign born 18
— of marriage , customary 75
Agriculture, per cent engaged in 206-10
Assimilability of different origins 24-5, 132
— with the British 134-8
Assimilation 55, 104, 130
— by intermarriage 15, 23-5, 118-24
— marriage as an index of 116
— of U.S. residents 145
— political 141, 151
— related to naturalization 26
Biological influence of immigrants 12-3
Birthplace as a factor in illiteracy 28
— census information on 11
— related to illiteracy 173
Birthplace of the population: 90-102
Birthrate 35
Birthrates in the Prairie Provinces, 1926 214-17
Blind , by origins 221
Canadianization 140
Children, percentage by origin 211-14
Citizenship, definition of Canadian 11
— related to criminality 31
Coefficient of correlation 129-30, 134, 141, 147,
168-9, 173-5,215-7
Coefficients of variation 93
Colour barrier to assimilation 119
Coloured stocks, criminality of 194
Composition of population 43, 67-84
changes in 16-7, 21
Congregation in large cities.' 112-5
Conjugal condition 35
and nativity 75-6
of different origins ; 19-20
Convictions for indictable offences 176-9
Crime 35
— and origin 176-202
— rates 177
— related to extraction and birthplace 28-31
Criminality 18
Cultural influence of immigrants 12-3
Deaf mutism, by origins 221
Death rate of immigrants 60
Delinquent children 182
Density of population, by birth 100-101
Distribution of immigrant stocks 20-21
— of nativity groups 85-103
— of population stocks 85-103
Emigration 43, 59-60, 87
Endogamous marriages 118
Endogamy in coloured races 119
English, learning of 167-9
Environment of immigrants 13
Exogamous marriages 25, 125, 127, 134
Fertility 33-5
— by origin. . . . .. .211-7
Gainfully employed, by nativity 203-10
Geographical classification 59-62
— distribution of foreign stocks 85-101
— groupings of stocks 44-6
— groups, sex differences in 72-3
Group heredity 28
Heredity, affecting criminality 195 , 198
— group 28
Illiteracy 35-40, 215-7
— and birthplace 173
— and sex , 174
— and rural and urban distribution 173-4
Page
— in foreign born 170-2
— of different stocks 27-8
— related to origins i 170-5
Immigrant population, increase of 62
— races 58
Immigrants, able to speak English 163-5
— by birthplace 62-3
— by country of birth 41-2
— by provinces " 93-5
— distribution of 20-1
— naturalization of 140-59
— origin 49-50
— percentage urban 104-8
— proportion of 100-3
— resident in each province 101-2
— unable to speak French or English 161-3
Immigration 43, 46-8, 59-61, 87, 90-1
— and age distribution 77, 79
— and sex distribution 70-1
— "old" and "new" 54-7
— : provincial proportions 102-3
— shift of 63
Indictable offences 28, 30, 200-2
and nativity 176-9
by age 177-8
by sex 177-8
Infant mortality 33-40
byorigin 211, 212, 218-20
Intermarriage 14 , 18 , 35-40
— and mother tongue ■ 167-9
— and length of residence 125-6
— and sex distribution 126
— in different stocks 116-39
— of different origins 23-5
— source of data on 116
— with British stocks 121-3
— with French stocks. 123-4
Intermingling of stocks. 43
Language _. 167-9
— census information on '. 11
— used, related to origin 160-9
Languages spoken 27, 35-40
Law enforcement f 18
Length of residence 17, 49-66, 167-9, 215-7
and intermarriage 125-6
and sex distribution 70
of immigrants 65, 66
Linguistic classification 59-62
— grouping of stocks 43-6
— groups 64, 69
sex distribution in 72-3
source of immigration by 54-5
Marriage tate 34
Marriages, exogamous 25, 125, 127, 134
Melting pot 123
Mixed marriages 119, 121, 135, 137-9
— parentage 181
— stocks, classification of .". 14-5
Mother tongue of immigrants 165-7
Nationality, census information on 11
Nativity and conjugal condition 75-6
— groups, distribution of 85-103
— of Canadian people 17-8
— of immigrants 17-8
Natural increase 43, 87, 211
Naturalization Act of 1914 11-2
— and urban residence 145
— by provinces 150-5
— laws 140, 156
— of immigrants 140-59
— rate of * 159
— related to assimilation 26-7
— speed of 27, 156-9
Naturalizations, by origins 148
— by sex 148-50
Naturalized proportion of immigrants 41-2
, Occupations, by birthplace 203-10
— by origins 32-3
— by sex 203-10
— proportions in specified 206-10
Origin and criminality 31
— and illiteracy 27-8
— census information on 11
— classification difficulties 13-4
explained 14
223
224 RELATION OF ORIGIN TO FERTILITY AND INFANT MORTALITY
Page
Origin distinguished from race 12
— geographical 13
— of parents 117
— of population of Canada 43-8
Origins, adult population by 73-4
— and crime ; 176-202
— and fertility. 34-6
-r-jand intermarriage... 116-39
— groupings by. 43-6
Penitentiaries '. 36-42, 176, 179
Penitentiary data. .29-31
— population, and date of immigration 199
by age 188 , 189-90
by birthplace. 189-93
by sex.: .........../.......... ...188, 189-90
citizenship of 193-4
conjugal condition. 188-9
origin of .' 194-7
Percentage surplus of males 67, 69, 70-1
Population born outside Canada 68-62
— by origin 68
— by sex .......". 68 , 69
— composition of. . .'.' 67-84, 102
— groupings. . . . . : 43-6
— numerical distribution by origins: 49-52
— of Canada, by origins ....... 1 ' 43-8 .
— stocks, distribution of. . 85-103
— structure of..' 20-1
changes in ' 90-1
Prairie Provinces, birthrates of '..:... 214-7
Preferred stocks 61
Race '. . 12 ■
Reformatories 35-40, 176, 179, 198
Reformatory data 29
— population, birthplace of ..... . 179-86
by origin ., 182-5
percentage of 180-1
sex of 179-80
Residence, length of 17, 49-66, 167-9, 215-7
— requirements 156
Rural and urban distribution 132
and illiteracy 173-4
by origins 22
Page
Rural and urban distribution by provinces 108-11
by sex 11 1-13
of crime 185-6
— — of stocks 104-5
— domicile; 215-7
— isolation 104
School attendance 35
; related to illiteracy 27
related to origins 170-5
Segregation, a barrier to intermarriage 24
— and intermarriage 132-5
— in cities 114
— occupational 131
— of stocks 22
— rural 133
Sex and illiteracy 174
— composition of various origins •. 67-74
— distribution 29, 31, 34, 119, 211, 212
-of criminality 200-2
■ *■" ■ * ■ 18-9
25
104
154
13
46-8
49-66
35
14-5
52-4
44
43-4
■ of different origins.
— disturbing influence on intermarriage
Shifting of population
Standard deviation.
Stock, defined
Stocks, changes in proportion of.
— distribution of
— fertility of
' — mixed, classification of
— percentages of, in Canada
— various, numbers of
proportions of
Structure of Canadian population 20-1 , 43
influence of intermarriage 25
Surplus of males 67
: of different birthplaces.. . .' 73
Urban and rural distribution, by origins 22
by provinces 108-1 1
by sex 111-13
of stocks I 104-15
— proportion of immigrants 41-2
— residence and naturalization 145
Urbanization of different stocks 106-7
— relation to naturalization 26
Vital Statistical Reports 116-7
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